Italy Misses World Cup Again, Loses to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Penalties

Four-time FIFA World Cup champion Italy failed again to qualify for the finals. [Photo=Yonhap·Reuters]

Italy, a four-time FIFA World Cup champion, failed once more to reach the tournament finals.

Italy drew Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 after regulation and extra time, then lost 4-1 on penalties in the UEFA playoff Group A final for the 2026 North America World Cup on April 1 (Korean time) at Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The defeat means Italy has missed the World Cup finals for a third straight time.

Italy won the World Cup in 1934 in Italy, 1938 in France, 1982 in Spain and 2006 in Germany, but has not appeared at the finals since the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

Even with the World Cup expanding from 32 teams to 48 for the North America edition, Italy again fell short of qualification.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, which became independent from Yugoslavia, will make its second World Cup appearance. It debuted at the 2014 tournament in Brazil and was eliminated in European qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, which secured a World Cup ticket for the first time in 12 years by beating Italy, will play in Group B at the finals, competing with Canada, Switzerland and Qatar for a place in the round of 32.

* This article has been translated by AI.

Kang Sang Heon