Italy will not compete in the World Cup for the third time in a row after their new defeat in the playoffs

The curse of the playoffs struck the Squadra Azzurra once again on Tuesday night as they were defeated in a penalty shootout (1-1, 4-1 on penalties).

It’s a never-ending fall. Once again, Italy crashed against the barrier of the playoffs, continuing a dizzying drought for a nation that’s a four-time world champion. Absent from the final phase since 2014, the Squadra Azzurra sees the 2026 World Cup slipping away for the third consecutive time after 2018 and 2022, in a new cruel scenario against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Despite being in the lead until the 79th minute thanks to Moise Kean (15th), but being a man down after the expulsion of Alessandro Bastoni just before halftime (41st), the Italians eventually succumbed before losing in the penalty shootout (1-1, 4-1 on penalties).

A nightmare that seems never-ending. Just when Gennaro Gattuso’s men seemed to be in control of the match, the expulsion of the Inter central defender truly changed everything. Disorganized and forced to play on counters, the Italians then more often fell under the authority of the hosts, stirred by a raucous Zenica stadium despite the roughly 15,000 spectators, but who were thwarted by Gianluigi Donnarumma for a long time, making several decisive saves including one against Tahirovic (72nd). Moise Kean (60th) and Federico Dimarco (77th) could have scored the crucial second goal for Italy, but failed to convert and eventually self-destructed, losing everything.

First with Tabakovic’s equalizer (79th) who followed up on a Demirovic header miraculously saved by Donnarumma. And then, as Italy seems cursed to the core in these qualifying playoffs, the ticket to the World Cup was ultimately decided by penalties. A catastrophic session for the four-time world champion as only Sandro Tonali, the best Italian on Tuesday night, managed to beat Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, while Pio Esposito sent a missile into the stands and Bryan Cristante hit the crossbar. A blessing for the four Bosnian shooters who successfully converted each time, sending the whole stadium into a frenzy.

Thanks to this historic feat in the country, Bosnia-Herzegovina, ranked 66th in the FIFA rankings and reaching the competition for the second time in its history (after 2014), is directly placed in World Cup Group B where they will face Canada (June 12), Switzerland (June 18), and finally Qatar (June 24). At the same time, the surprise winner in the penalty shootout, Czech Republic against Denmark (2-2, 3-1 on penalties), as well as Sweden (3-2 against Poland) and Turkey (1-0 against Kosovo), have also qualified for the World Cup finals.