Japanese media put the possibility of a rematch between Italy and Korea front and center ahead of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. It is a view that the stage could reopen for avenging past wounds.
Football Channel reported on the 20th (Korean time), "Will a critical opportunity to take revenge on Korea arise? It can be said that Italy caught a bit of luck in the draw," noting that with the North and Central America World Cup bracket structure confirmed, the possibility of Korea and Italy meeting in the tournament has emerged as a realistic scenario.
Italy, ranked 12th in the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) rankings, will participate in playoff group A of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup European qualifiers next March alongside Northern Ireland, Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina. They must pass through this stage to reach the finals.
If they get through the playoffs, Italy will be placed in Group B of the finals group stage with Canada, Switzerland and Qatar. And from here a link to Korea is formed. On the bracket, group A and group B are structured so they can intersect in the early rounds of the tournament.
Korea was placed in Group A of the group stage with Mexico, South Africa and the winner of European qualifying playoff group D. According to the rules, the runner-up in group A faces the runner-up in group B in the round of 32. If Italy advances as the runner-up in group B, a match with Korea could be arranged.
Football Channel explained, "If Italy finishes first in the group, it will face one of the third-place teams from groups E, F, G, I or J in the round of 32," and "if it finishes second, it will meet the runner-up from group A, which includes host nation Mexico as well as Korea, South Africa and the winner of European playoff group D."
Past records were also highlighted. Football Channel said, "Italy has faced Mexico 12 times and holds the edge with seven wins, four draws and one loss," and added, "It has met Korea twice, and both matches were at World Cup finals."
To Italian football fans, Korea is an opponent they can never forget. In the 1986 Mexico World Cup group stage, Italy defeated Korea 3-2. But the situation was different at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. In the round of 16, Korea, with Seol Ki-hyun's equalizer and Ahn Jung-hwan's golden goal, produced a major upset by beating Italy 2-1.
Under then-manager Guus Hiddink, Korea used that victory as a springboard to defeat Spain on penalties in the quarterfinals and complete the World Cup semifinal run. From Italy's perspective, it is an indelible memory inevitably accompanied by the word "revenge."
Football Channel emphasized, "If they meet Korea again in this tournament, it would be a critical opportunity for Italy to wash away the pain of 2002."
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