Africa is at the midway point of five playoff matches to determine who qualifies for the tournament, while Australia have been consigned an Asian and potential intercontinental playoff as they bid to keep their hopes of reaching a fifth straight World Cup alive.

Despite having their fate in their own hands, the United States have been sweating as they aim to avoid a repeat of their shock failure to qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia.

Regardless of the outcome of these qualification processes, Italy’s failure to qualify for consecutive men’s FIFA World Cup tournaments for the first time will be the headline story of this window.

A potential head-to-head clash between Portugal and Italy in the final stage of UEFA’s playoff process had been mooted, only for predictions to have been thrown out of the window by North Macedonia.

The world number 67th ranked team had held firm against Italy in Palermo, before a 92nd minute effort from Aleksandar Trajkovski saw North Macedonia earn a dramatic 1-0 victory and move one match away from a debut appearance at the FIFA World Cup.

"We’re devastated and heartbroken, but we need to bounce back," Italian captain Giorgio Chiellini reflected after the stunning upset. 

"It’s difficult to speak right now."

Chiellini was not the only one struggling to find the words after the match, which saw Italy fail to score despite 32 shots on the North Macedonia goal.

A series of remarkable statistics followed about the four-time World Cup winners' absence. 

It was pointed out that Italy’s last knockout match at the FIFA World Cup was the final they won against France in 2006, with 2026 representing their next chance to play in one.

Italy have also only won one match at the FIFA World Cup - against England in 2014 - since being crowned winners in Berlin. 

The nation’s much debated rugby team might like to point out they have won eight matches at the Rugby World Cup during the same time frame.

The most surprising part has been Italy’s rollercoaster ride from failure to qualify for Russia 2018, to Euro 2020 champions last summer and back to devastation at missing out on the World Cup again.

"On a human level, I care for more for the lads now at this difficult time than in July," said Italian head coach Roberto Mancini, who had guided Italy to a world record 37-match unbeaten run, which only ended in October.

"The victory at the Euros was the best thing to happen to me in my professional career. 

"This is my biggest disappointment.

"In football, incredible things happen, and this was the case this evening, we did everything to try to win."

Italy are by no means the first continental champions to fail to qualify for the next edition of the FIFA World Cup, becoming the fourth European nation to suffer disappointment so soon after glory.

Czechoslovakia failed to reach the 1978 tournament two years on from winning the four-team Euro 1976 finals, while 1992 Euro winners Denmark and Euro 2004 champions Greece missed out on the 1994 and 2006 FIFA World Cup tournaments.

With Denmark and Greece, the surprise came in their success at the Euros, more than their failure to reach to the global showpiece.

Chile are the most-recent and perhaps famous South American examples.

Their golden generation of players had finally ended their wait for a maiden Copa America title in 2015 after beating Argentina in the final on penalties in front of a home crowd in Santiago. 

A repeat occurred the following year in the United States in the Copa América Centenario anniversary edition of the tournament.

The two-time reigning continental champions were unable to replicate their displays in the gruelling South American qualification process for Russia 2018. 

A 3-0 loss to Brazil in the 18^th and final round of fixtures, coupled with a draw between Peru and Colombia, saw Chilean hopes end.

Colombia clinched the final direct spot one point clear, while Peru headed to the intercontinental playoffs on the same number of points as Chile. 

Chile could certainly feel hard done by, after both the nation and Peru were both awarded 3-0 wins over Bolivia due to an ineligible player having been fielded. 

Peru had lost to Bolivia while Chile had drawn, with the extra points ultimately proving key.

Colombia also found themselves on the wrong side of a tight qualification campaign for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, finishing sixth in the group standings. 

The Colombian team missed out on securing a playoff place on goal difference to Uruguay.

Colombia had been crowned Copa America champions in 2001 during the qualification campaign. 

Like Chile, their first continental title had come in front of a home crowd with the team winning six consecutive matches and avoided conceding a goal during the tournament.

Less than a month later, Colombia suffered a 1-0 loss to Peru at the same venue, contributing to their ultimate failure to reach the FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan. 

It marked a period in the World Cup wilderness for the nation, who subsequently missed out on Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010.

Arguably it is Africa where continental champions have struggled the most when seeking to follow their achievement up by reaching the World Cup.

Egypt amazingly won four editions of the African Cup of Nations between their participation at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy and their next appearance at Russia 2018.

The nation were crowned continental champions in 1998, shortly after the disappointment of failing to book their place at France 1998.

Three consecutive African Cup of Nations titles were claimed between 2006 and 2010, but Egypt's absence from the World Cup continued.

Their absence from the 2010 FIFA World Cup came in tough circumstances, with a special playoff required against Algeria after the nations finished with identical records in the third-round group in qualification. 

Algeria triumphed 1-0 in the playoff to secure their spot at the World Cup.

Zambia were left watching the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup at home, having failed to qualify prior to their maiden continental title the same year. 

The Ivory Coast and Cameroon, who were the winners of the 2015 and 2017 African Cup of Nations respectively, failed to negotiate qualification groups to reach Russia 2018.

The fate of the two most-recent winners remains uncertain, with Africa’s playoff matches at the halfway stage.

The 2017 continental champions Algeria currently hold a 1-0 advantage over Cameroon after the first leg. 

Senegal, who won the African Cup of Nations for the first-time last month, have work to do in their playoff with Egypt.

Senegal trail 1-0 after the first leg, with Egypt seeking to avenge their defeat in last month’s final.

Senegal could find themselves as the latest nation to suffer a continental champions curse.