Italy Eliminated from 2026 FIFA World Cup in Playoff

Italy's national football team has been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a dramatic playoff defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31. Italy initially took the lead with a goal from Mois Kean in the 15th minute, but the match turned when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off, leaving Italy with ten men.

Bosnia equalized in the 79th minute, and after a tense penalty shootout, Esmir Bajraktarević converted the winning penalty, resulting in a 4-1 shootout victory for Bosnia. This defeat marks Italy as the first former world champion to fail to qualify for three consecutive World Cups.

In other matches, Turkey secured their World Cup spot with a 1-0 victory over Kosovo, thanks to a goal from Kerem Aktürkoğlu. Sweden also clinched their place with a thrilling 3-2 win against Poland, ending an eight-year wait for a World Cup appearance.