Italy misses World Cup by inches in heartbreaking shootout moment
What a stunning moment for Italy, which will miss the World Cup for a third straight time.
It seems unthinkable for Italy to miss any World Cup. But the country that won back in 2006 and three other WC tournaments will miss out on a third straight World Cup. It all came down to a shootout in the playoffs against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
If Italy could survive that, it would make it the 2026 World Cup. But with Esmir Bajraktarevic shooting against Gianluigi Donnarumma, a stop would have kept the dream alive. It didn't happen.
Donnarumma guessed right... but the ball went underneath his hands and in. No World Cup appearance for Italy, which is the most stunning.
ITALY FAIL TO QUALIFY FOR A THIRD STRAIGHT WORLD CUP š¤Æ Wisconsin-born Esmir Bajraktarevic scores the spot kick to send Bosnia and Herzegovina to the big dance, breaking Italian hearts and enshrining his special place in Bosnian ones š§š¦ pic. twitter. com/69eCM1uafy ā Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) March 31, 2026 Absolutely heartbreaking for Italy.