Today, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the national teams of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy will meet at the Stadion Vilino Polje in Zenica with the same goal of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The game, scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET, will feature the most tense moments for both sides. This is a direct UEFA play-off final, there are no second chances. The winner will qualify for the next World Cup. Losers will be left behind.
For Italy, this match means more than just qualifying. It’s a chance to break the winning streak that weighs heavily on recent history. The team missed out on the World Cup in 2018 and 2022, both of which fell under the playoff scenario, and now faces the risk of playing at home for a third consecutive tournament.
At the forefront are Bosnia, playing at home and facing a historic challenge. Bosnia and Herzegovina have never beaten Italy in an official match. Their only victory over the Italians came in a friendly in 1996, almost 30 years ago, shortly after they were admitted to FIFA. Today the situation is completely different. This match represents a possible path to the World Cup.
Now all we have to do is wait and see which teams will take part in the 2026 World Cup, which will host three countries for the first time.
What’s new: After more than 90 minutes of play, Bosnia clinched their ticket to the World Cup, while Italy missed a huge chance and lost for the third consecutive tournament without being able to play on soccer’s biggest stage.
