Italy fail to qualify for third consecutive World Cup after Bosnia-Herzegovina penalty win
ROME | By Sayer Zaland
Four-time world champions Italy will miss the FIFA World Cup for a third consecutive edition after losing to Bosnia-Herzegovina in a dramatic penalty shootout. No previous winner has failed to qualify for three straight tournaments, following absences in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
Italy took the lead in the 15th minute through Moise Kean, capitalizing on a defensive error by Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. The home side’s advantage ended when defender Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for a foul on Amar Memic five minutes before halftime. Despite Gianluigi Donnarumma making several crucial saves, Bosnia equalized in the 79th minute through Haris Tabakovic, forcing extra time.
In the penalty shootout, Bosnia converted all four spot-kicks, while Italy’s Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed, sealing Bosnia-Herzegovina’s first World Cup appearance since 2014. The Balkan side will face Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland in Group B this summer.
The result marks a historic low for Italian football, highlighting the growing competitiveness in European qualification and underscoring the unpredictable nature of international tournaments.