The Laziali will be watching the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup as neutrals, as no members of the squad are currently set to take part in the tournament. With Italy failing to qualify for the tournament, the likes of Mattia Zaccagni, Nicolo Rovella and Alessio Romagnoli will all be staying at home and watching on as fans.
The good news for Lazio fans and players alike is they’ll at least be treated to a feast of football action over the summer from co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States. The World Cup will be using its new, expanded format for the first time, with 48 teams competing in a total of 104 games across 39 days. Bettors following from co-hosts Canada can also back all the action using the FIFA betting sites recommended by Canada Sports Betting.
It’s rare for Lazio to have no players heading to a World Cup, with the last time the Biancocelesti not sending a player being 40 years ago in 1986. Since then, Lazio players have enjoyed some iconic tournament performances and moments.
As the 2026 World Cup draws closer, these are three of the greatest moments for Lazio players at recent editions of the tournament.
Massimo Oddo & Angelo Peruzzi – Italy, 2006
Italy last won the World Cup in 2006, beating France on penalties to lift the trophy in Berlin. By that time, legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was firmly Italy’s first choice between the posts. His backups, however, were both Lazio players.
Massimo Oddo was the Lazio captain at the time of the tournament, and was given some playing time during the side’s 3-0 quarter-final win over Ukraine, while the third choice keeper was Oddo’s club backup Angelo Peruzzi. At 36, Peruzzi was in the squad largely to provide experience, although he had been the regular starter before Buffon’s rise.
Despite playing little part in the tournament, Oddo helped create one of the most iconic victory celebrations in World Cup history. The Lazio keeper is also a trained barber, and marked Italy’s triumph by expertly cutting off teammate Mauro Camoranesi’s trademark ponytail.
Miroslav Klose – Germany, 2014
When Miroslav Klose joined Lazio from Bayern Munich in 2011, the German striker was already 33 years old and considered by many to be past his best. They couldn’t have been more wrong, with Klose spending five iconic years at Lazio.
Klose’s international career was winding down at the 2014 World Cup, and the German legend made sure he went out with a bang. He scored during Germany’s infamous 7-1 victory over hosts Brazil, cementing himself as his nation’s all-time leading male goalscorer (71 goals). The goal also made him the leading World Cup goalscorer (16 goals) – one more than Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario.
Germany went on to win the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Argentina, with Klose starting the match and leading the attack. The German decided to retire from international football after lifting the trophy, saying he’d achieved his national team goals.
Marcelo Salas – Chile, 1998
Chilean striker Marcelo Salas became a Lazio player thanks to his standout performances at France 98. In a world without YouTube highlights and social media, the World Cup was often the stage where South American players would announce themselves to Europe’s elite powerhouses. Nobody did that better than Salas.
After a breakout tournament that saw him score four goals in as many games, Lazio paid £12 million to bring Salas to Italy from River Plate. The Chilean enjoyed a productive three-year spell with the Biancocelesti, scoring 48 goals in 117 games and lifting the Scudetto as a part of the Serie A winning squad in 1999/2000.
Salas was eventually sold to Juventus in for a healthy profit in 2001 following the previous summer’s arrivals of Hernán Crespo and Claudio López. Unfortunately, he suffered a serious knee injury shortly after his move, and was never able to recapture the pace and ferocity that saw him nicknamed “El Matador”.
Still, the Laziali fondly remember the fiery Chilean who played his way into their club after a breathtaking tournament at France 98.
