Foreign media mock Italy at the start of the World Cup: Shakira has taken part in more World Cups than the Azzurri

The start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has brought not only football excitement but also ironic comments on social media and in international media outlets.

The British tabloid “The Sun” published a post that went viral, mocking Italy’s absence from this year’s World Cup.

The post features a photo of Colombian superstar singer Shakira alongside another of young Italian striker Pio Esposito.

“The Sun” accompanied the images with an ironic comment that attracted major online attention.

“Shakira has taken part in more World Cups than Italy over the past 20 years,” the post read, also including two laughing emojis.

The comment refers to the fact that the Colombian singer has been involved in several World Cup editions, either through official anthems or performances at opening ceremonies, while Italy has missed some major tournaments in recent years.

The post sparked numerous reactions on social media, with many fans seeing it as a strong dig at the four-time world champions, who failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Italy remains one of the most successful national teams in football history, but its absence from recent tournaments has often been a subject of discussion and mockery in international sports media.

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