Italy's men's national football team will be absent from the FIFA World Cup for a third consecutive tournament after losing a decisive qualification playoff. The Azzurri were defeated by Bosnia and Herzegovina in a match played on March 31, 2026, ending their hopes of reaching the 2026 finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The playoff final, held in Zenica, saw Bosnia and Herzegovina secure a 2-1 victory in regular time. The result confirmed Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, following their previous absences from the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. This marks a historic low for the four-time world champions.
Italian manager Luciano Spalletti described the outcome as a "profound disappointment" for the nation. The defeat has sparked intense scrutiny of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and the state of the country's football development system. Qualification for the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup was seen as a minimum expectation.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's victory sends them to their second-ever World Cup, while Italy must begin planning for the 2030 qualification cycle. The fallout from this failure is expected to lead to significant structural reviews within Italian football.
