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  "path": "/news/italy-fail-to-qualify-for-world-cup-for-third-time-in-a-row.html",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-01T03:45:18.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.wantedinrome.com",
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  "textContent": "Four-time world champions Italy have not played in the World Cup since 2014.\n\nItaly failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, for the third time in a row, following a dramatic penalty-shootout defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica on Tuesday night.\n\n\nThe match finished 1-1 after extra time, with Bosnia winning 4-1 on penalties.\n\n\nThe defeat means that Italy is the first former champions in the tournament's history to miss three consecutive editions.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe match\nItaly, managed by Gennaro Gattuso, took the lead in the 15th minute through Moise Kean, who converted after a goalkeeping error by Bosnia's Nikola Vasilj.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe match turned decisively after 41 minutes when centre-back Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul on Amar Memic, leaving Italy to play the remainder of the contest with 10 men.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBosnia equalised in the 79th minute through Haris Tabakovic, who turned in a rebound after Gianluigi Donnarumma had parried a header from Edin Dzeko. The score remained 1-1 through extra time.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn the penalty shootout, substitutes Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante both failed to convert for Italy - Esposito firing over the bar, Cristante striking the post.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBosnia scored their first four penalties without error, with Esmir Bajraktarević converting the decisive kick to confirm their place at the tournament.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nContext and consequences\nItaly's last appearance at a World Cup was in Brazil in 2014. Their previous play-off eliminations came at the hands of Sweden in 2018 and North Macedonia in 2022.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe 2026 defeat to Bosnia, a nation ranked 66th by FIFA - 54 places below Italy - has compounded the sense of structural crisis within Italian football. None of Italy's current squad has ever appeared in a World Cup finals.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaking after the match, a tearful Gattuso said: \"I want to personally apologise since we didn't make it. These lads didn't deserve this, for the effort, the love, the determination.\" He declined to discuss his future.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nItalian football federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina, who faced immediate calls for his resignation, confirmed he had asked Gattuso and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon to remain in their posts.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHe announced that a Federal Council meeting would take place the following week to conduct formal evaluations, stating: \"We realise we're in a huge crisis.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBosnia will compete at the 2026 World Cup in Group B, alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar. Their opening fixture is scheduled for 12 June in Toronto.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nItaly's next chance at returning to the World Cup will be in 2030, meaning the four-time world champions will go at least 16 years without playing in the global tournament.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReaction\nItalian newspapers captured the general mood of utter disappointment and disbelief in Italy on Tuesday night with headlines such as \"Total disaster\" (Corriere della Sera), \"A nightmare without end\" (Il Messaggero), and \"Italy's third World Cup flop\" (Gazzetta dello Sport).\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"We still don’t believe it - that we’re out and that it happened in this way,\" Italy defender Leonardo Spinazzola said - \"It’s upsetting for everyone. For us, for our families, and for all the kids who have never seen Italy at a World Cup.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPhoto credit: ErreRoberto / Shutterstock.com",
  "title": "Italy fail to qualify for World Cup for third time in a row"
}