Italy makes heartbreaking history by missing out on third straight World Cup after shootout loss

Italy made heartbreaking history connected Tuesday night, arsenic they missed their 3rd consecutive World Cup bid pursuing a nonaccomplishment to Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Italy is now nan first World Cup-winning squad to miss 3 consecutive tournaments pursuing nan penalty-kick shootout nonaccomplishment successful nan European playoffs. 

The federation was erstwhile a shot powerhouse, winning it each 4 times pinch its astir caller successful 2006. But caller years person not been benignant to nan Italian squad, and they were emotion nan symptom of nan nonaccomplishment aft nan match. 

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Pio Esposito of Italy disappointment  during nan FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs  match betwixt Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy astatine Stadion Bilino Polje connected March 31, 2026 successful Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Image Photo Agency)

"We still don’t judge it – that we’re retired and that it happened successful this manner," Italy’s Leonardo Spinazzola said to reporters, per nan New York Post. "It’s upsetting for everyone. For us, for our families and for each nan kids who person ne'er seen Italy astatine a World Cup."

After 90 minutes and other time, some nations were stuck successful a 1-1 tie, and nan punishment shootout was needed to find a winner. Italy yet fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4-1, successful nan shootout, arsenic Esmir Bajraktarevic secured nan triumph pinch nan last goal. 

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It didn’t thief that Italy was playing pinch conscionable 10 men connected nan section aft Alessandro Bastoni received a reddish paper earlier halftime. Bosnia and Herzegovina utilized nan man advantage to necktie nan crippled successful nan 79th minute, arsenic Haris Tabakovic scored nan equalizer. 

Italy's defender Alessandro Bastoni receives a reddish paper from nan referee during nan FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification last shot lucifer betwixt Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy astatine nan Bilino-Polje stadium successful Zenica connected March 31, 2026. (Elvis BARUKCIC / AFP)

Moise Kean was capable to onslaught first for Italy successful nan 15th minute, giving them nan momentum they were searching for coming into nan match. However, they were ne'er capable to rally successful nan end. 

While Italy remains 1 of only 3 nations to ever triumph nan World Cup 4 times successful history, they can’t look to find what it takes to get to nan tournament. 

In 2018, Italy fell astatine nan hands of Sweden, while North Macedonia shocked them successful 2022 successful nan qualifiers. 

Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy reacts during nan FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs lucifer betwixt Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy astatine Stadion Bilino Polje connected March 31, 2026 successful Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Srdjan Stevanovic - UEFA)

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Now, Bosnia and Herzegovina will effort their luck successful Group B erstwhile nan World Cup kicks off, starting pinch a lucifer against Canada. They will besides look Qatar and Switzerland successful nan group stage. 

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