Italy Misses 2026 World Cup After Bosnia Play‑off Loss

The Azzurri took an early lead through Moises Kean, but a red card for Alessandro Bastoni and a Haris Tankovic equaliser sent the tie to extra‑time and penalties. Bosnia converted all five spot‑kicks, while Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed for Italy, ending the nation’s World Cup hopes.

Italian newspapers erupted with headlines such as “Everyone out!” and “Everyone at home,” calling for sweeping changes. Manager Gennaro Gattuso said he would not discuss his future, while pundits like Gabriele Romagnoli and Maurizio Crosetti criticised the national setup.