Four-time world champions Italy failed to qualify for a third World Cup in a row after a devastating penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina. No previous winner of the tournament has missed three consecutive instalments of the competition, after they also failed to reach Russia in 2018 and Qatar 2022. But this was a woeful night for Italian football as the four-time winners failed again. Gravina insisted he would not step down but admitted Italian football had now reached a "profound crisis". "Italian children will see another World Cup without Italy," said tearful winger Leonardo Spinazzola.

Source: BBC March 31, 2026 17:13 UTC