Italian football hit a shocking low as they failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite the tournament being expanded to a 48-team event this time. The Azzurri have now failed to qualify for the mega event for the third time in a row, having also failed to make the cut in both 2018 and 2022.
The four-time world champions were the favorites to secure a spot as they faced Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final of the UEFA qualification playoffs second round at the Bilino Polje stadium in Zenica. Italy took the lead in the 15th minute with a goal from Moise Kean, but a red card to Alessandro Bastoni in the 41st minute turned the game around. Haris Tabakovic equalized in the 79th minute. The match went into a penalty shootout, where the hosts held their nerve by scoring all their four penalties while Bryan Cristante and Pio Esposito missed for the visitors.
Bosnia has qualified for the World Cup for the second time in history. Their only appearance so far was in 2014, which was also Italy’s last outing.
The European country is placed in Group A alongside Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar.
Sweden, Turkey, and the Czech Republic sealed the other remaining qualification spots from Europe after beating Poland, Kosovo, and Denmark.
Italy’s 2006 Victory Curse
Since lifting the trophy in 2006 on German soil after beating France in the final after a dramatic shootout under Fabio Cannavaro’s captaincy, the Italian football team has a miserable record in the tournament and has won just one match. They were knocked out in the group stage of both the 2010 (2 draws, 1 loss) and 2014 (1 win, 2 defeats).
Quite incredibly, in this period, they won the UEFA Euros title in 2021 and also played the final in 2012, when they lost to Spain by a 4-0 margin.
For those unversed, Italy is the joint-second most successful team in the competition’s history, along with Germany, after winning the title in 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006. Only Brazil (5) has lifted the trophy more times.
