Italy is out again. The 4-time champion misses 3rd straight World Cup with shootout loss in Bosnia

Italy, a four-time World Cup champion, failed to qualify for the tournament for the third consecutive time after losing to Bosnia in a World Cup qualifying playoff final. The match took place in Zenica, Bosnia on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The defeat came after a penalty shootout, preventing Italy from advancing to the World Cup. Alessandro Bastoni of Italy received a red card during the match, further impacting the team's performance. Bosnia's victory was celebrated with coach Sergej Barbarez being chaired by his team.

Bosnia and Herzegovina defeated Italy 4-1 on penalties in their European qualifying playoff, securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup finals and eliminating the four-time champions. The match, held in Zenica, ended 1-1 after extra time. Italy took an early lead but were reduced to 10 men before halftime, allowing Bosnia to equalize. Bosnia will now compete in Group B against Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar. Italy's loss marks their failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, a first for former champions, while Bosnia reaches their second World Cup finals and first since 2014.