Italy fail to qualify for 3rd consecutive World Cup

April 1, 2026 at 6:35 PM

Four-time world champions Italy have failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup after suffering a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

No previous World Cup winner has missed three straight editions, following Italy’s earlier failures to qualify for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.

Bosnia and Herzegovina have now qualified for only the second time in their history and will face Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B this summer. (NewsWire)