Italy failed to qualify for a third straight World Cup after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties Tuesday in a European playoff, while Turkey, the Czech Republic and Sweden also secured places at the 2026 tournament.
The four-time world champions will miss the finals for the third consecutive time after also failing to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, despite the expansion of this year’s competition to 48 teams in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Bosnia and Herzegovina won the shootout 4-1 in Zenica after the match ended 1-1 following extra time. Sandro Tonali scored Italy’s only penalty, while Francesco Pio Esposito sent his attempt over the bar and Bryan Cristante hit the crossbar.
Moise Kean gave Italy the lead in the 15th minute, but Alessandro Bastoni was sent off late in the first half. Haris Tabakovic equalized in the 79th minute, and no further goals followed.
“I don’t think the boys deserved to suffer such a blow,” Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso said. “It’s difficult to digest.”
Ranked 66th in the world, Bosnia and Herzegovina finished second in qualifying Group H behind Austria before beating Wales on penalties in the playoff semifinal.
The country’s only previous World Cup appearance came in 2014. It will now play in Group B along with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
Italy last qualified for the World Cup in 2014, when it was eliminated in the group stage. The Azzurri have not won a World Cup knockout match since lifting the trophy in 2006.
Turkey booked its place with a 1-0 win over Kosovo, thanks to a 53rd-minute goal from Kerem Aktürkoğlu. The result ended Kosovo’s bid to reach the World Cup for the first time.
It will be Turkey’s first World Cup appearance since its run to the semifinals in 2002 and only its third overall after also qualifying in 1954. Vincenzo Montella’s side will play in Group D with the United States, Paraguay and Australia.
“We achieved our dreams. The World Cup is the pinnacle in this profession,” Montella told UEFA.com.
Sweden also reached the finals after edging Poland 3-2 in Stockholm, with Viktor Gyökeres scoring the winner in the 88th minute.
Anthony Elanga opened the scoring before Nicola Zalewski equalized for Poland. Gustaf Lagerbielke restored Sweden’s lead before halftime, but Karol Świderski made it 2-2 early in the second half.
Gyökeres then forced in the decisive goal late on to send Sweden through.
Now coached by Graham Potter, Sweden will play in Group F along with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
The Czech Republic also qualified after beating Denmark 3-1 on penalties in Prague following a 2-2 draw after extra time.
Pavel Šulc put the hosts in front before Joachim Andersen leveled for Denmark. Ladislav Krejčí restored the Czech lead in extra time, but Kasper Høgh equalized again.
Denmark converted only one of its four penalties, with Rasmus Højlund, Anders Dreyer and Mathias Jensen all missing, as the Czechs secured their first World Cup appearance since 2006.
The Czech Republic will play in Group A with South Africa, South Korea and Mexico.
© Agence France-Presse