Italy has failed to qualify for its third straight World Cup, APA reports citing Yahoo Sports.
Bosnia and Herzegovina was victorious against the Italians following a penalty kick shootout to claim one of the final six spots in the 2026 World Cup during Tuesday’s playoffs.
Moise Kean put the Italians ahead after 15 minutes, but they put themselves at a disadvantage in the 41st minute when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off. Bosnia kept the pressure on Gianluigi Donnarumma with 30 shot attempts and 11 shots on goal as the visitors played the remainder of the game with 10 men.
In the 79th minute, Haris Tabaković equalized for Bosnia.
Extra time could not decide a winner and penalties were needed.
During the penalty shootout, Italy missed two attempts. while the hosts scored four times to set off the celebrations in Zenica.
Bosnia & Herzegovina will be a part of Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
Türkiye will be returning to the World Cup following a 1-0 victory on the road over Kosovo.
Kerem Aktürkoğlu scored in the 53rd minute and that was all Türkiye needed to secure a spot in the World Cup for the first time in 24 years and only the second time since 1954.
With the win, Türkiye will join the United States in Group D along with Paraguay and Australia.
Viktor Gyökeres was the hero for Sweden as his 88th-minute winner sank Robert Lewandowski’s and Poland’s hopes during a 3-2 victory.
Sweden will be back at the World Cup for the first time since a run to the quarterfinals in 2018. They will be in Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
Czechia also qualified for the first time since 2006 after beating Denmark on penalties.
Pavel Šulc's 3rd-minute goal was answered in the 72nd minute by Denmark's Joachim Andersen. In extra time, the teams exchanged goals and penalties were needed to determine a winner.
Denmark collapsed in PKs, missing three attempts, while the Czechs made three of their four to win and qualify.
The Czechs will join Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, the FIFA inter-continental playoff finals will see DR Congo face Jamaica and Iraq take on Bolivia.
