Four-time world champion Italy has once again faced failure in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. After losing 4-1 in a penalty shootout against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy has missed out on qualifying for the World Cup for the third consecutive time. Bosnia and Herzegovina have earned this opportunity for the first time in 14 years. Kathmandu, April 1 – Italy, four-time world champions, have encountered another setback in their FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. In the European playoff held Tuesday night for the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Italy was defeated 4-1 on penalties by Bosnia and Herzegovina, preventing them from qualifying for the third consecutive tournament.
Italy had also missed out on qualification in both 2018 and 2022, losing in the playoff stages each time. The match, held at Bosnia’s Bilino Polje Stadium, saw Italy fail to convert two of their first three penalties, leading to their defeat. Following the loss, Italy’s coach Gennaro Gattuso expressed how difficult it was to accept the situation and said it deeply saddened him.
The match had ended 1-1 after regulation time, with the result decided via a penalty shootout. Michael Keane gave Italy the lead by scoring in the 15th minute, but Alessandro Bastoni received a red card in the 41st minute, reducing Italy to ten players. Bosnia’s Haris Tavašević equalized in the 79th minute. Under the leadership of 40-year-old captain Edin Džeko, Bosnia and Herzegovina secured their second-ever FIFA World Cup qualification, their first since 2014.
Having qualified for the World Cup after 14 years, Bosnia will now compete in Group B with Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland.
