Italy will not participate in this year’s World Cup (Image: Getty)
Italy continues to have a tough time in tournaments, missing out on qualifying for the World Cup for the third year in a row. Since defeating France in an unforgettable final 20 years ago, the Italians have won only one World Cup match, losing in the group stage in 2010 and 2014 and missing out on qualification to Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. He will not play again this summer after suffering a heartbreak in the penalty shootout against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Courtesy of Moise Kean, Gennaro Gattuso’s side defeated Northern Ireland in the qualifying semi-final in Bosnia, leading 1-0 after 15 minutes on the road. However, Alessandro Bastoni was sent off just before half-time and the 10-man home side rallied and Haris Tabakovic equalized in the 79th minute, forcing extra time. Italy persevered and took the match to penalties.
Pio Esposito fired Italy’s first spot-kick over the crossbar, and Brian Cristante’s third shot hit the crossbar from 12 yards remaining. Sandro Tonali was the only scorer. The Bosnians won 4-1, with Esmir Bajraktarevic galvanizing and converting all of their penalties.
Italy became the first former champions in history to miss out on three consecutive World Cups. Meanwhile, Bosnia will be in Group B of the World Cup and will face co-host Toronto in their first match. Beyond that, Switzerland and Qatar await.
Elsewhere, Sweden, managed by former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter, defeated Poland 3-2 with an 88th-minute winner from Viktor Gökeres, who missed Qatar four years ago. After a 2-2 draw in extra time, the Czech Republic defeated Denmark 3-1 in a penalty shootout. Turkey won 1-0 against Kosovo and qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2002.
Sweden will be in Group F with Tunisia, Netherlands and Japan. The Czech Republic will be in Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. Turkey will then play Paraguay and Australia, along with the other co-host United States, in Group D.
Italy’s latest World Cup heartbreak was a penalty shootout (Image: Getty)
All groups for the 2026 World Cup
Group A
Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic
Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
America, Australia, Paraguay, Türkiye
Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao
Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden
Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq/Bolivia
Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Democratic Republic of Congo/Jamaica
England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
