Italy misses third straight World Cup after historic penalty shootout loss

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Italy made heartbreaking historical past on Tuesday night time, as they missed their third straight World Cup bid following a loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Italy is now the primary World Cup-winning workforce to overlook three consecutive tournaments following the penalty-kick shootout loss within the European playoffs.

The nation was as soon as a soccer powerhouse, successful all of it 4 occasions with its most up-to-date in 2006. However current years haven't been form to the Italian squad, they usually had been feeling the ache of the loss after the match.

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Pio Esposito of Italy disappointment throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO playoff match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026, in Zenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina. (Picture Photograph Company)

"We nonetheless don’t imagine it – that we’re out and that it occurred on this method," Italy’s Leonardo Spinazzola stated to reporters, per the New York Submit. "It’s upsetting for everybody. For us, for our households and for all the youngsters who've by no means seen Italy at a World Cup."

After 90 minutes and additional time, each nations had been caught in a 1-1 tie, and the penalty shootout was wanted to find out a winner. Italy finally fell to Bosnia-Herzegovina, 4-1, within the shootout, as Esmir Bajraktarevic secured the victory with the ultimate aim.

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It didn’t assist that Italy was enjoying with simply 10 males on the sector after Alessandro Bastoni acquired a crimson card earlier than halftime. Bosnia-Herzegovina used the person benefit to tie the sport within the 79th minute, as Haris Tabakovic scored the equalizer.

Italy's defender Alessandro Bastoni receives a crimson card from the referee throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification closing soccer match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy on the Bilino-Polje stadium in Zenica on March 31, 2026. (Elvis BARUKCIC / AFP)

Moise Kean was capable of strike first for Italy within the fifteenth minute, giving them the momentum they had been trying to find coming into the match. Nonetheless, they had been by no means capable of rally ultimately.

Whereas Italy stays considered one of solely three nations to ever win the World Cup 4 occasions in historical past, they'll’t appear to search out what it takes to get to the event.

In 2018, Italy fell by the hands of Sweden, whereas North Macedonia shocked them in 2022 within the qualifiers.

Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy reacts throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO playoff match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026, in Zenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina. (Srdjan Stevanovic - UEFA)

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Now, Bosnia-Herzegovina will attempt their luck in Group B when the World Cup kicks off, beginning with a match in opposition to Canada. They will even face Qatar and Switzerland within the group stage.