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Italy Misses 3rd World Cup in a Row!
31 Mar
Summary
- Italy failed to qualify for their third consecutive World Cup.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina secured a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
- Alessandro Bastoni's red card significantly impacted Italy's performance.
For the third World Cup in a row, Italy will not be participating in the tournament. The four-time champions suffered a playoff defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina, who won on penalties to secure their place in the 2026 World Cup.
Italy took an early lead via Moise Kean, but a red card for Alessandro Bastoni before halftime turned the game into an uphill battle. Despite a spirited effort and resilience, Italy's campaign ended in penalty shootout heartbreak, with crucial misses from Francesco Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's victory was sealed by a penalty from teenager Kerim Alajbegovic. The team will now face co-hosts Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland in Group B of the World Cup finals.
Italy's absence marks a significant disappointment, especially after showing promise with an early lead. Moise Kean's recent goal-scoring form, having scored in his last six games, highlighted their attacking potential, but it was not enough to overcome the challenges faced in the crucial playoff match.
