Italy Fails to Qualify for 2026 World Cup as Bosnia and Sweden Secure Spots

Four European nations — Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Turkey, and the Czech Republic — secured their places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday after winning their respective play-off finals, while Italy suffered the humiliation of missing a third consecutive World Cup. Bosnia eliminated Italy 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, with Italy reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Alessandro Bastoni in the 41st minute. The match went to extra time without further scoring, and Italy missed two of its spot-kicks in the shootout while Bosnia converted all four of its attempts. Sweden defeated Poland 3-2 in a dramatic match decided by Viktor Gyökeres in the 88th minute, Turkey beat Kosovo 1-0 through a Kerem Aktürkoglu goal, and the Czech Republic edged Denmark 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

Italy's failure to qualify continues a painful run for one of football's most decorated nations. The Azzurri also missed the 2018 World Cup in Russia after losing a play-off to Sweden, and failed again to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Turkey's last World Cup appearance came in 2002 in South Korea and Japan, where they finished third — their best-ever result. Sweden's best World Cup finish was a runners-up spot in 1958, and they also finished third in both 1950 and 1994. The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, running from June 11 to July 19, with 48 national teams competing — the largest field in the tournament's history.

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Gyökeres seals Sweden's comeback in front of 49,000 fans Sweden's path to qualification was anything but straightforward, with English coach Graham Potter's side having finished last in their qualifying group and reaching the play-offs only through their Nations League ranking. Poland dominated large stretches of the match in Solna, yet Sweden's clinical finishing proved decisive. Anthony Elanga opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a shot under the bar from the edge of the area. Nicola Zalewski equalized for Poland in the 33rd minute, but Gustaf Lagerbielke headed Sweden back in front in the 44th minute against the run of play. Karol Świderski leveled again for Poland in the 55th minute, leaving the match finely balanced. With 49,000 spectators at the Solna stadium on edge, Gyökeres — a former Sporting CP forward — struck powerfully in the 88th minute to send Sweden to their 13th World Cup finals appearance. Sweden will join the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia in Group F.

Elanga (SWE): 19, Zalewski (POL): 33, Lagerbielke (SWE): 44, Świderski (POL): 55, Gyökeres (SWE): 88

Turkey ends 24-year World Cup absence with Aktürkoglu winner in Pristina Turkey returned to the World Cup for the first time in 24 years after Kerem Aktürkoglu, a Fenerbahçe forward and former Benfica player, scored the only goal of the match in the 53rd minute at the Fadil Vokrri stadium in Pristina. Kosovo, who had beaten Slovakia 4-3 in their semi-final, pressed hard in the closing stages, with Florent Muslija hitting the post in the 80th minute and goalkeeper Ugurcan Çakir making a crucial save seven minutes later. The victory ended Kosovo's dream of reaching their first-ever major international tournament — Kosovo declared independence in 2008. Turkey, coached by Vincenzo Montella, will play in Group D alongside the United States, Paraguay, and Australia. Their only previous World Cup appearances came in 1954 and 2002, the latter ending with a third-place finish. Bosnia and Herzegovina's qualification, meanwhile, was confirmed after their penalty shootout victory over Italy, with Sergej Barbarez's side benefiting from Italy's numerical disadvantage for over an hour of play.

Czech Republic joins Group A; two intercontinental play-offs still to come The Czech Republic, coached by Ivan Hašek, secured their place at the World Cup by defeating Denmark 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw, and will join South Korea, Mexico, and South Africa in Group A. The four European qualifiers from Tuesday's finals joined a growing list of confirmed participants for the North American tournament. Two intercontinental play-off finals were still scheduled to be played during the night of March 31 to April 1: the Democratic Republic of Congo against Jamaica, with the winner entering Group K alongside Colombia, Portugal, and Uzbekistan; and Iraq against Bolivia, whose winner will join France, Senegal, and Norway in their group. 48 (teams) — total national teams competing at the 2026 World Cup Italy's absence marks a third consecutive failure to reach the World Cup finals, a record of underachievement for a nation that has won the tournament four times. The Azzurri's coach at the time of the play-off, whose identity was not confirmed in available reports, oversaw a campaign that ended in familiar disappointment at the penalty spot.