Italy gamers protest to referee Clement Turpin after Haris Tabaković scores Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first objective throughout a Fifa World Cup UEFA Qualifier at Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica on March 31, 2026. — Reuters
Italy did not qualify for a 3rd consecutive World Cup as a play-off defeat on penalties to Bosnia and Hercegovina on Tuesday meant the Azzurri is not going to go to this 12 months’s event in North America, whereas Turkiye, the Czech Republic and Sweden all secured their locations on the finals.
Italy have received the World Cup 4 instances, however they did not qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments and can as soon as once more have to look at from afar as the sphere is expanded to 48 groups in america, Canada, and Mexico.
Bosnia received 4-1 within the shoot-out in Zenica after their play-off last completed 1-1 on the finish of additional time, with Sandro Tonali the one Italy participant to attain from the spot as Francesco Pio Esposito blazed their first penalty over and Bryan Cristante smashed his kick in opposition to the crossbar.
Moise Kean had given Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy the lead on quarter-hour, however they have been decreased to 10 males when Alessandro Bastoni was proven a straight pink card late within the first half.
Bosnia equalised on 79 minutes by means of Haris Tabakovic, and with no additional objectives in further time, the tie was selected penalties.
“I don’t think the boys deserved to suffer such a blow,” stated Gattuso. “It’s difficult to digest.”
Ranked 66th on this planet, Bosnia completed second in qualifying Group H behind Austria earlier than beating Wales on penalties of their play-off semi-final.
Their solely earlier World Cup look got here in 2014. Now they go into Group B at this 12 months’s event together with Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland.
The 2014 version is the final time Italy certified. They went out within the group stage, like in 2010. They haven’t received a World Cup knockout sport since they final lifted the trophy in 2006.
In 2018, they did not qualify after dropping a two-legged play-off last to Sweden, and so they additionally missed out in 2022 after dropping a play-off to North Macedonia.
Kosovo dream over
Turkiye certified as Kerem Akturkoglu’s 53rd-minute objective secured a 1-0 win in Kosovo, shattering their hosts’ dream of showing on the event for the primary time.
It will likely be Turkiye´s first look at a World Cup since reaching the semi-finals in 2002. Vincenzo Montella’s group will go into Group D together with co-hosts america, Paraguay, and Australia.
Turkiye gamers have fun after qualifying for the Fifa World Cup throughout the Fifa World Cup UEFA Qualifier in opposition to Kosovo at Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo on March 31, 2026. — Reuters
Montella’s facet is ranked twenty second on this planet, however this can solely be Turkiye´s third ever look on the World Cup — they went to the 1954 event earlier than coming third 24 years in the past in South Korea and Japan.
“We achieved our dreams. The World Cup is the pinnacle in this profession,” Montella advised UEFA.com.
Kosovo, ranked 78th, have been focusing on a first-ever World Cup look, having solely been accepted as a Fifa member a decade in the past.
Gyokeres heroics, Danes denied
Sweden recovered from a determined efficiency within the group stage of qualifying to safe their place on the finals in dramatic trend.
Having overwhelmed Ukraine 3-1 in final week’s semi-final, they edged Poland 3-2 in Stockholm, with Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres scoring an 88th-minute winner.
Earlier, Sweden had twice taken the lead solely to be pegged again, with Anthony Elanga’s opener on 20 minutes cancelled out by Nicola Zalewski, just for Gustaf Lagerbielke to place the hosts again in entrance earlier than half-time.
Sweden gamers have fun after their third objective throughout the Fifa World Cup UEFA Qualifier in opposition to Poland at Strawberry Enviornment, Solna, Sweden on March 31, 2026. — Reuters
Karol Swiderski obtained Poland’s second early within the second half, however Gyokeres pressured the ball over the road after a frantic goalmouth scramble late on.
They completed backside of qualifying Group B with no win, however secured a play-off spot due to their performances within the UEFA Nations League.
Now coached by Englishman Graham Potter, they’ll go into Group F on the World Cup together with the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia.
The Czech Republic matched Bosnia’s achievement by qualifying due to back-to-back shoot-out victories, as they adopted their success in opposition to Eire final week by defeating Denmark 3-1 on penalties in Prague.
The match completed 2-2 after further time, with Pavel Sulc firing the hosts forward just for Joachim Andersen to move the Danes stage.
Ladislav Krejci then put the Czechs again in entrance in further time, however Kasper Hogh made it 2-2.
Nonetheless, Denmark transformed simply one in all their 4 penalties, with Rasmus Hojlund, Anders Dreyer and Mathias Jensen all failing from the spot because the Czechs qualify for a primary World Cup since 2006.
They go into Group A with South Africa, South Korea and Mexico.
