Italy have missed out on qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026, extending their absence to a third straight tournament after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in a playoff final on Tuesday.
The match in Zenica ended 1–1 after extra time before Bosnia secured a 4–1 win in the penalty shootout, booking their place at the expanded 48-team finals to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Italy had taken the lead in the 15th minute through Moise Kean, but their task became more difficult after Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card late in the first half. Bosnia equalised in the 79th minute through Haris Tabakovic, forcing extra time and eventually penalties, where Italy’s missed attempts proved costly. Sandro Tonali was the only Italian player to convert from the spot, while Francesco Pio Esposito missed and Bryan Cristante struck the crossbar.
The defeat continues Italy’s recent World Cup struggles, having also failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 editions, despite being four-time world champions. Head coach Gennaro Gattuso expressed disappointment, stating the players did not deserve such a result and describing the outcome as difficult to accept.
Bosnia, ranked 66th in the world, secured only their second-ever World Cup appearance, their previous participation coming in 2014.
Elsewhere in European qualifying playoffs, Turkiye, Sweden, and the Czech Republic confirmed their places at the 2026 tournament.
Turkiye sealed qualification with a 1–0 victory over Kosovo, courtesy of a second-half goal by Kerem Akturkoglu, marking their first World Cup appearance since 2002. Sweden advanced after a dramatic 3–2 win over Poland, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring a late winner. The Czech Republic also progressed following a penalty shootout victory over Denmark after a 2–2 draw in Prague.
The results complete the latest set of European qualifiers for the expanded World Cup, with all four teams set to compete in the upcoming tournament across North America.