Italy, four‑time World Cup champions, have failed to reach the global finals for the third consecutive tournament after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout in the European playoff final. The defeat in Zenica plunges one of football’s historic powers into a new low, while Bosnia celebrate only their second ever World Cup qualification.
How the match unfolded
Italy took an early lead through Moise Kean in the first half, but their momentum derailed when centre‑back Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card in the 42nd minute, leaving the Azzurri to play over 40 minutes with 10 men. Bosnia equalised in the 79th minute via substitute Haris Tabakovic, taking the tie into extra time at 1–1 before both sides were still locked after the additional 30 minutes.
Penalty shootout and aftermath
In the ensuing shootout, Italy missed crucial spot‑kicks from Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante, while Bosnia’s U.S.-born Esmir Bajraktarević converted the winning penalty to seal a 4–1 shootout triumph. Bosnia thus qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, while Italy become the first former champion nation to miss three successive World Cups, deepening a crisis for a team that last won a knockout‑round match in the 2006 final.
Italy defender Leonardo Spinazzola described the loss as “unbelievable” and “upsetting for everyone,” underscoring how a generation of current players has never experienced a World Cup finals.
