It had been over two years since another country had been able to beat Italy’s national team. It finally happened on October 6, 2021 when Spain knocked off Italy in Milan in a 2-1 UEFA Nations League semifinal win.
As far as football records go, the Italians’ record 37-match unbeaten streak remains a remarkable feat (list of all 37 matches follows below), although Algeria could be closing in before too long.
No. 8-ranked Spain got two goals from Ferran Torres at Milan’s Stadio San Siro and held on to win 2-1 and advance to the Nations League final in Milan on Sunday against Belgium or France. It was the first time that Italy conceded two goals in a match since June 2018 (3-1 friendly loss to France).
MORE: How the Nations League finals work and how to watch
Italy set the new world record for longest undefeated streak in international matches with its 5-0 World Cup qualifying win against Lithuania on Sept. 8, surpassing Brazil, which put together a run of 36 matches unbeaten in the 90’s.
37 - #Italy are the first national team in the world to have a streak of 37 matches in a row without any defeat (W28 D9). History. #ItalyLithuania pic.twitter.com/D8IGYHJ9oh
— OptaPaolo 🏆 (@OptaPaolo) September 8, 2021
Longest undefeated streaks in international football
Look out for Algeria, which is just eight matches behind Italy with the next longest active unbeaten run:
- 37 — Italy (2018- present )
- 36 — Brazil (1993-1996)
- 35 — Spain (2007-2009)
- 31 — Argentina (1991-1993)
- 30 — France (1994-1996), Italy (1935-1939)
- 29 — Algeria (2018- present )
- 23 — West Germany (1978-1981), France (2010-2012)
MORE: The memorable PK shootout that made Italy Euro champs
Italy’s record unbeaten streak
The Azzurri's run came to an end at 37 matches. It had been over two years since its last loss: a 1-0 defeat to Portugal on Sept. 10, 2018. The streak included all senior national team matches from every official competition, including friendlies.
Head coach Roberto Mancini took over the men's program in May 2018 on the heels of Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. After going 1-2-2 in his opening five matches, Mancini led his country to the world record of consecutive matches without a loss and a 28-0-9 overall record in that span (93 goals scored, 12 conceded) before the loss to Spain.
| Match # | Date | Competition | Opponent | Result |
| Oct. 6, 2021 | Nations League | vs. Spain | LOSS (2-1) | |
| 37 | Sept. 8, 2021 | World Cup Qualifier | vs. Lithuania | Win (5-0) |
| 36 | Sept. 5, 2021 | World Cup Qualifier | at Switzerland | Draw (0-0) |
| 35 | Sept. 2, 2021 | World Cup Qualifier | vs. Bulgaria | Draw (1-1) |
| 34 | July 11, 2021 | Euro 2021 | at England | Draw (1-1) |
| 33 | July 6, 2021 | Euro 2021 | vs. Spain | Draw (1-1) |
| 32 | July 2, 2021 | Euro 2021 | vs. Belgium | Win (2-1) |
| 31 | June 26, 2021 | Euro 2021 | vs. Austria | Win (2-1) |
| 30 | June 20, 2021 | Euro 2021 | vs. Wales | Win (1-0) |
| 29 | June 16, 2021 | Euro 2021 | vs. Switzerland | Win (3-0) |
| 28 | June 11, 2021 | Euro 2021 | vs. Turkey | Win (3-0) |
| 27 | June 4, 2021 | Friendly | vs. Czech Republic | Win (4-0) |
| 26 | May 28, 2021 | Friendly | vs. San Marino | Win (7-0) |
| 25 | March 31, 2021 | World Cup Qualifier | at Lithuania | Win (2-0) |
| 24 | March 28, 2021 | World Cup Qualifier | at Bulgaria | Win (2-0) |
| 23 | March 25, 2021 | World Cup Qualifier | vs. Northern Ireland | Win (2-0) |
| 22 | Nov. 18, 2020 | Nations League | at Bosnia & Herzegovina | Win (2-0) |
| 21 | Nov. 15, 2020 | Nations League | vs. Poland | Win (2-0) |
| 20 | Nov. 11, 2020 | Friendly | vs. Estonia | Win (4-0) |
| 19 | Oct. 14, 2020 | Nations League | vs. Netherlands | Draw (1-1) |
| 18 | Oct. 11, 2020 | Nations League | at Poland | Draw (0-0) |
| 17 | Oct. 7, 2020 | Friendly | vs. Moldova | Win (6-0) |
| 16 | Sept. 7, 2020 | Nations League | at Netherlands | Win (1-0) |
| 15 | Sept. 4, 2020 | Nations League | vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina | Draw (1-1) |
| 14 | Nov. 18, 2019 | Euro Qualifier | vs. Armenia | Win (9-1) |
| 13 | Nov. 15, 2019 | Euro Qualifier | at Bosnia & Herzegovina | Win (3-0) |
| 12 | Oct. 15, 2019 | Euro Qualifier | at Liechtenstein | Win (5-0) |
| 11 | Oct. 12, 2019 | Euro Qualifier | vs. Greece | Win (2-0) |
| 10 | Sept. 8, 2019 | Euro Qualifier | at Finland | Win (2-1) |
| 9 | Sept. 5, 2019 | Euro Qualifier | at Armenia | Win (3-1) |
| 8 | June 11, 2019 | Euro Qualifier | vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina | Win (2-1) |
| 7 | June 8, 2019 | Euro Qualifier | at Greece | Win (3-0) |
| 6 | March 26, 2019 | Euro Qualifier | vs. Liechtenstein | Win (6-0) |
| 5 | March 23, 2019 | Euro Qualifier | vs. Finland | Win (2-0) |
| 4 | Nov. 20, 2018 | Friendly | vs. USA | Win (1-0) |
| 3 | Nov. 17, 2018 | Nations League | vs. Portugal | Draw (0-0) |
| 2 | Oct. 14, 2018 | Nations League | at Poland | Win (1-0) |
| 1 | Oct. 10, 2018 | Friendly | vs. Ukraine | Draw (1-1) |