Italy misses third straight World Cup after historic penalty shootout loss

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

Italy is now the first World Cup-winning team to miss three consecutive tournaments following the penalty-kick shootout loss in the European playoffs. 

The nation was once a soccer powerhouse, winning it all four times with its most recent in 2006. But recent years have not been kind to the Italian squad, and they were feeling the pain of the loss after the match. 

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Pio Esposito of Italy disappointment during 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. (Image Photo Agency)

“We still don’t believe it – that we’re out and that it happened in this manner,” Italy’s Leonardo Spinazzola said to reporters, per the New York Post. “It’s upsetting for everyone. For us, for our families and for all the kids who have never seen Italy at a World Cup.”

After 90 minutes and extra time, both nations were stuck in a 1-1 tie, and the penalty shootout was needed to determine a winner. Italy eventually fell to Bosnia-Herzegovina, 4-1, in the shootout, as Esmir Bajraktarevic secured the victory with the final goal. 

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It didn’t help that Italy was playing with just 10 men on the field after Alessandro Bastoni received a red card before halftime. Bosnia-Herzegovina used the man advantage to tie the game in the 79th minute, as Haris Tabakovic scored the equalizer. 

Italy’s defender Alessandro Bastoni receives a red card from the referee during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy at the Bilino-Polje stadium in Zenica on March 31, 2026. (Elvis BARUKCIC / AFP)

Moise Kean was able to strike first for Italy in the 15th minute, giving them the momentum they were searching for coming into the match. However, they were never able to rally in the end. 

While Italy remains one of only three nations to ever win the World Cup four times in history, they can’t seem to find what it takes to get to the tournament. 

In 2018, Italy fell at the hands of Sweden, while North Macedonia shocked them in 2022 in the qualifiers. 

Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy reacts during 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 try their luck in Group B when the World Cup kicks off, starting with a match against Canada. They will also face Qatar and Switzerland in the group stage. 

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