Italy has a relatively short sporting tradition but, as with most European countries, they love football. It is their most popular sport, with basketball, cycling and volleyball being runners-up.

Giro d'Italia cycling event Giro d'Italia cycling event

The Italian football team won the 2006 FIFA World Cup and is widely considered the second-best team in the whole of World Cup history, next only to Brazil, who has won five championships. Italy has taken a total of four FIFA World Cup's (1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006). They were once the European champions (1968) as well as the two-time Central European International Cup winners.

Italy also has a strong foothold in a number of sports such as rugby, athletics, tennis, fencing, as well as winter sports. Italian riders are well known in the cycling circuit for winning more World Cycling Championships than any country, with exception to Belgium.

"Italian sporting culture reflects a unique blend of passion and tradition, from the tactical brilliance of Serie A football to the endurance challenges of the Giro d'Italia. The country's four World Cup victories demonstrate not just athletic excellence, but a deep understanding of team strategy and national pride."
— Robert J. Wood, PhD, Founder of Topend Sports

The Giro d'Italia is one of the three Grand Tours that is held every May. It normally runs for three weeks, much like the Vuelta a España and the Tour de France. Italy has participated in most of the modern Olympic Games since 1896, missing only the 1904 Games. They are one of the most successful nations to ever join either the Summer or Winter Games, and have hosted the Games on three separate occasions.

Italians have a long sporting history. Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Italy. See also the list of the most popular internet searches for "sports" in Italy.

Italy at the FIFA World Cup

Italy hosted the 1934 FIFA World Cup and won it for the first time in the same year. The Gli Azzurri won Czechoslovakia 2-1 in the final match of the tournament to clinch the trophy at Stadio Olimpico.

Four years after the 1934 FIFA World Cup, Italy defended their World Cup title in France. Italy went through a series of stages to get into the final match with Hungary. The team won Hungary 4-2 at the end of full-time to lift its second World Cup trophy.

In 1982, Italy won its third World Cup trophy at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain. Then, Italy lifted its fourth World Cup trophy in 2006, which was hosted by Germany. The 2006 FIFA World Cup final was played between Italy and France, which ended in a penalty shootout in favor of Italy.

Italy at the Olympics

Italy has been impressive in the past Olympics. Here are some of the trophies they have won:

Italy Medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Gold Silver Bronze Total
12 13 15 40

Italy Medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Gold Silver Bronze Total
10 10 20 40

Italy Medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Gold Silver Bronze Total
8 12 8 28

Popular sports of Italy (see more)

Traditional or Regional Sports

  • Calcio Fiorentino — an early form of football. Games are played annually in Piazza Santa Croce in Florence.
  • Palla is an Italian word for 'ball' and is a traditional street game played in villages of Italy.
  • Hitball — an indoor team sport from Italy in which players strike the volleyball sized ball into the opponent's goal post only using the upper limbs.
  • Pallone Col Bracciale - It is a traditional Italian sport that is similar to volleyball, but with a large ball and a smaller court.
  • Bocce - This traditional sport is similar to lawn bowling. You need a metal or wooden balls to play this game on a court made of dirt or clay.
  • Ruzzola - It is a traditional Italian sport that is similar to rugby. But, this game is played with a small leather ball with two teams of four players.

Italian Sporting Success

  • FIFA World Cup Champions: 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006.

Great athletes from Italy

Italy Sports trivia

  • Volata was a short-lived ball game that was developed in fascist Italy as a substitute for association football and rugby union. It was played by eight-man sides to rules that were a hybrid of those for football and handball. Basically, the ball could be played by using the hands and feet, but for not more than three seconds.
  • Italy has won the FIFA World Cup four times.
  • Italy has competed at most of the modern Olympic Games, missing only the 1904 Summer Olympics.

Italy at major events

Past sporting events events hosted in Italy

Upcoming sporting events in Italy

Annual sporting events held in Italy

  • Giro d'Italia (cycling)
  • Marcialonga ("the long march") - 70km cross-country skiing event
  • Serie A — the top level football league in Italy.
  • The Giro d'Italia - This is an annual multiple-stage bicycle race held in May and June.
  • The Italian Grand Prix - This is a Formula One race held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Monza, Italy.
  • The Italian Open - This is a professional tennis tournament held in Rome, Italy.
  • The 24 Hours of Le Mans - This is an endurance race held in June at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.

Sporting Facilities in Italy

  • Stadio Olimpico (Rome)
  • San Siro stadium (Milan)
  • Stadio San Paolo (Naples)

Other

Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let me know.