Eliminated by Bosnia

Total disaster! Italy misses out on the 2026 World Cup

Italian striker Francesco Esposito can’t believe it—his Squadra Azzurra has once again failed to qualify for the World Cup!(Bild: AP/Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The worst-case scenario has come to pass: Italy will have to watch from the sidelines for the third World Cup in a row! In a dramatic playoff match in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, the Squadra Azzurra’s World Cup dream was shattered after a long period of playing a man down, losing 1-4 in a penalty shootout. The score was 1-1 after 120 minutes. The Czech Republic also secured its first World Cup berth in 20 years against Denmark, winning 3-1 in a penalty shootout …

In Zenica, the Italians experienced a dramatic defeat. As planned, coach Gennaro Gattuso’s team took an early lead through Moise Kean (15th minute). The Fiorentina striker coolly converted after a mistake by Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. After that, however, the Bosnians dictated the game. In the 41st minute, Italy’s defensive leader Alessandro Bastoni was sent off after a professional foul on Amar Memic. After an hour, Kean had a chance to make it 2-0 after a sprint across half the field, but shot just over the bar.

At the other end, the Bosnians kept the four-time world champions under constant pressure with plenty of possession. In the 72nd minute, Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a low shot from Salzburg substitute Kerim Alajbegovic. Then, eight minutes after coming on as a substitute, former Austrian player Haris Tabakovic (79') struck after a rebound, sending the Bosnian crowd into a frenzy.

Bosnians ice-cold from the spot
The match went into extra time, where both teams had chances. However, a decision was only reached in the penalty shootout. There, Francesco Pio Esposito, the first Italian shooter, and Bryan Cristante lost their nerve. All four Bosnian shooters scored, including Tabakovic and Alajbegovic.

The Bosnians, who finished second in the Austria Group, will be competing on soccer’s biggest stage for the second time since 2014. This means that 46 of the 48 participants for the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19 in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, have now been determined. Two spots will still be decided in the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico between Jamaica and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as Iraq and Bolivia.

Czechs Knock Out Danes
The Czech Republic got off to a dream start against Denmark in Prague. Pavel Sulc fired a shot from the edge of the penalty area in the third minute and scored a spectacular goal into the far corner. The visitors pressed for the equalizer and were rewarded with a header by Joachim Andersen (72'). In extra time, Ladislav Krejci put the hosts on the path to victory (100'), but Kasper Högh (111') forced a penalty shootout, in which the Czechs kept their cool.

The playoff final results:

Sweden – Poland 3–2 (2–1)
Solna
Goals: Elanga (20'), Lagerbielke (44'), Gyökeres (88') and Zalewski (33'), Swiderski (55')

Kosovo – Turkey 0–1 (0–0)
, Pristina
Goal: Aktürkoglu (53')

Bosnia and Herzegovina – Italy 4–1 (pen.), 1–1 (a.e.t.) (1–1, 0–1)
Zenica
Goals: Tabakovic (79') and Kean (15')
Red card: Bastoni (41./Italy/goal-line clearance)

Czech Republic – Denmark 3–1 (pen.), 2–2 (aet.) (1–1, 1–0)
, Prague
Goals: Sulc (3.), Krejci (100.) and Andersen (72.), Högh (111.)