Italy will not be at a third consecutive World Cup after crashing in Tuesday’s (March 31, 2026) frenzied qualification play-off final to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Azzurri fumbling their opportunity of moving on to this summer’s tournament in North America with a miserable 4-1 penalty shoot-out loss.
The Bosnians secured a place in Group B, and matches against co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar, by winning the shootout when Esmir Bajraktarevic delivered the decisive spot-kick in Zenica that sent Italy withering toward yet another nightmare.
Four-time world champion Italy went ahead when Moise Kean scored in the 15th minute but crumbled under the weight of expectation at Bilino Polje Stadium after being forced to play much of the game with 10 men.
Already firmly on the back foot, Italy had Alessandro Bastoni dismissed for a foul on Amar Memic in the 41st minute before Haris Tabakovic turned home Bosnia’s deserved equaliser in the 79th to set an extension.
And the horror show continued in the following shoot-out, when Pio Esposito thumped Italy’s first penalty into orbit, and then Bryan Cristante clattered a shot off the bar while Bajraktarevic squeezed his attempt beneath Gianluigi Donnarumma to bring an end to it.
“I don’t think (the boys) deserve to suffer such a blow, for the performance, the effort and heart that they showed tonight… I’m proud of (the boys)” said a visibly shaken Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso.
Italy have missed out on a third consecutive World Cup after succumbing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuesday’s (March 31, 2026) thrilling qualification play-off final, the Azzurri blowing an opening to qualify for this summer’s tournament in North America with a 4-1 penalty shoot-out loss.
Esmir Bajraktarevic, who struck the winning spot-kick, in Zenica, took the Bosnians into Group B and a showdown with co-hosts Canada as well as Switzerland and Qatar — and threw Italy back into fresh nightmare.
Italy, a four-time world champion, led through Moise Kean in the 15th minute but crumbled under expectation at the Bilino Polje Stadium after being forced to play most of the match with 10 men.
Italy were already well and truly on the ropes when Alessandro Bastoni was dismissed for bringing down Amar Memic four minutes before half-time, and Haris Tabakovic prodded home a deserved equaliser for Bosnia in the 79th minute to force extra time.
And the horror show went on in the subsequent shoot-out, Pio Esposito hammering Italy’s first penalty over the goal and when Bryan Cristante hit the bar and Bajraktarevic whisked his attempt under Gianluigi Donnarumma, that was it.
“I don’t think the boys deserved to have such a blow, for performance, for effort and heart that they showed tonight … I’m proud of the boys,” said Italy’s visibly shaken coach Gennaro Gattuso.
“It’s difficult to digest.”
Gattuso said discussing his future “wasn’t important” but Gabriele Gravina, the head of the Italian Football Federation, later told reporters that he had asked Gattuso to remain as coach and that he would not resign.
Italy are now the first defending World Cup winners to miss three successive editions of the tournament, with this also a third successive exit in the play-offs following Sweden in 2018 and North Macedonia four years ago.
Bosnia, however, qualified for their second World Cup finals and first since 2014 in front of a passionate crowd that invaded the pitch following a historic victory.
“They’re guys with character. We have boys that we are proud of,” said the Bosnia coach, Sergej Barbarez.
“I’ve explained to them that we have to attend a tournament once every two years.
A few of the Italians were caught on camera celebrating when what went on to be their semi-final opponents took care of Wales — also by way of penalties, a situation that seemed increasingly foolish in light of Bosnia’s performance in that game.
Sorry Italy
Italy appeared nervous in the early exchanges but were given a helping hand in opening the scoring by Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, who under pressure from Mateo Retegui passed straight to Nicolo Barella.
The Inter Milan midfielder released to Kean who coolly bent his eighth goal in six international games into the net from outside the area.
Bosnia responded well to going behind, continuing to hound Italy and create errors on a bobbly pitch, and Ermedin Demirovic nodded a header inches wide in the 38th minute.
And the already raucous home fans sniffed blood when Bastoni was sent off for his hideous challenge, the Inter defender arriving late on Memic and forcing referee Clement Turpin to issue a straight red card.
Unfortunately a man down, as well as with an increasingly slender lead to protect, Gattuso replaced Retegui with Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti and instructed his team to absorb the waves of Bosnia pressure that came after the break.
Donnarumma was called into action to push clear Kerim Alajbegovic’s powerful drive in the 52nd minute, but Kean squandered a glorious opportunity to put Italy two ahead on the hour when he seized on Memic’s heavy pass and bore down on goal only for him to fire his shot over the bar.
And once Esposito and Dimarco squandered decent chances, the substitute Tabakovic sent a wave of joy after Edin Dzeko’s header was pawed off the line by Donnarumma.
Another great Donnarumma stop from a Demirovic header kept Italy level and extra time was similarly fraught, the Italians incensed that Tarik Muharemovic had not received his marching orders for upending Marco Palestra as the Cagliari defender charged toward goal.
But that will not be much of an excuse once a sorry attempt to make it to the World Cup has, in miserable fashion, ended in the shoot-out.