Zenica

Zenica is a city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, notable in this context as the location of the Bilino Polje stadium where the crucial World Cup 2026 qualifying playoff final between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy took place. Zenica is newsworthy because this match resulted in Bosnia and Herzegovina defeating Italy in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw, preventing the four-time World Cup champions, Italy, from qualifying for their third consecutive World Cup. The match saw Italy take an early lead but suffer a red card, allowing Bosnia to equalize. The subsequent penalty shootout saw Bosnia secure a 4-1 victory. This event is significant as it marks a major upset in World Cup qualifying and extends Italy's absence from the tournament, while simultaneously securing Bosnia and Herzegovina's place in the 2026 World Cup finals.