Four-time world champions Italy have not played in the World Cup since 2014.
Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, for the third time in a row, following a dramatic penalty-shootout defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica on Tuesday night.
The match finished 1-1 after extra time, with Bosnia winning 4-1 on penalties.
The defeat means that Italy is the first former champions in the tournament’s history to miss three consecutive editions.
The match
Italy, managed by Gennaro Gattuso, took the lead in the 15th minute through Moise Kean, who converted after a goalkeeping error by Bosnia’s Nikola Vasilj.
The match turned decisively after 41 minutes when centre-back Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul on Amar Memic, leaving Italy to play the remainder of the contest with 10 men.
Bosnia equalised in the 79th minute through Haris Tabakovic, who turned in a rebound after Gianluigi Donnarumma had parried a header from Edin Dzeko. The score remained 1-1 through extra time.
In the penalty shootout, substitutes Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante both failed to convert for Italy – Esposito firing over the bar, Cristante striking the post.
Bosnia scored their first four penalties without error, with Esmir Bajraktarević converting the decisive kick to confirm their place at the tournament.
Context and consequences
Italy’s last appearance at a World Cup was in Brazil in 2014. Their previous play-off eliminations came at the hands of Sweden in 2018 and North Macedonia in 2022.
The 2026 defeat to Bosnia, a nation ranked 66th by FIFA – 54 places below Italy – has compounded the sense of structural crisis within Italian football. None of Italy’s current squad has ever appeared in a World Cup finals.
Speaking after the match, a tearful Gattuso said: “I want to personally apologise since we didn’t make it. These lads didn’t deserve this, for the effort, the love, the determination.” He declined to discuss his future.
Italian football federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina, who faced immediate calls for his resignation, confirmed he had asked Gattuso and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon to remain in their posts.
He announced that a Federal Council meeting would take place the following week to conduct formal evaluations, stating: “We realise we’re in a huge crisis.”
Bosnia will compete at the 2026 World Cup in Group B, alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar. Their opening fixture is scheduled for 12 June in Toronto.
Italy’s next chance at returning to the World Cup will be in 2030, meaning the four-time world champions will go at least 16 years without playing in the global tournament.
Reaction
Italian newspapers captured the general mood of utter disappointment and disbelief in Italy on Tuesday night with headlines such as “Total disaster” (Corriere della Sera), “A nightmare without end” (Il Messaggero), and “Italy’s third World Cup flop” (Gazzetta dello Sport).
“We still don’t believe it – that we’re out and that it happened in this way,” Italy defender Leonardo Spinazzola said – “It’s upsetting for everyone. For us, for our families, and for all the kids who have never seen Italy at a World Cup.”
Photo credit: ErreRoberto / Shutterstock.com
