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Italy, four-time World Cup champions, will not feature at this year’s tournament after a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina, marking the first time in history a former winner has missed three consecutive World Cups.

The Italians also failed to qualify for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, deepening a crisis in a national team once synonymous with international success.

The match went to penalties after Italy, reduced to 10 men, held firm against a relentless Bosnian attack. Pio Esposito’s missed attempt and Bryan Cristante’s shot striking the underside of the crossbar sealed Italy’s fate.

Bosnia-Herzegovina, captained by 40-year-old Edin Dzeko, secured their second-ever World Cup appearance and will join Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland in Group B this summer.

For Italy, it was a night of despair. Coach Gennaro Gattuso, fighting back tears, emphasized that his personal future was secondary after FIGC president Gabriele Gravina publicly urged him to stay.

Gattuso said: "It hurts, because we needed it for us, for all of Italy and for our movement. A blow that's difficult to digest. I would have given up years of my life, money, for us to achieve our goal."

Gravina acknowledged Italian football’s dire state, calling it a "profound crisis," but confirmed he would not resign.

Italy had initially taken the lead in the 15th minute when Moise Kean capitalized on a misplayed pass by Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, finishing off a chance created by Nicolo Barella. But momentum shifted when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for a foul on Amar Memic just before halftime.

In the second half, Gianluigi Donnarumma made several critical saves, yet Bosnia found an equalizer when Haris Tabakovic scored from the rebound of Edin Dzeko’s header in the 79th minute. Extra time failed to produce a winner, leaving the outcome to penalties, where Bosnia converted every attempt to advance.

Leonardo Spinazzola expressed his heartbreak: "Italian children will see another World Cup without Italy. I still can't believe that we went out like this, after playing with 10 men. With grit, we took it to penalties, we could have scored three or four goals and it's really a great disappointment for everyone."

A History of Missed Opportunities

Italy’s struggles have been evident since their fourth World Cup title in 2006. They failed to progress past the group stages in 2010 and 2014 and have only recently seen glimpses of success, including their Euro 2020 victory over England.

Gattuso, who played in Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning team, replaced Luciano Spalletti after the team’s 3-0 loss to Norway in June 2025. Despite winning five consecutive matches in qualifying, Italy ultimately could not avoid the play-offs, and the defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina confirmed their absence.

Structural Challenges in Italian Football

Experts cite long-term issues in player development and league policies. The Bosman ruling of 1995, allowing a surge of foreign players into Serie A, limited opportunities for domestic talent. European football analyst Julien Laurens told BBC Sport: "The academies in Italy are not producing enough players, or players who are fit to play in their first team. The way they spend their money is not what we are used to from Italian clubs."

Financial woes and outdated stadiums exacerbate the problem. Italian clubs lag behind other European leagues in revenue, hindering investment in youth systems and infrastructure. Former Italy forward Alessandro Del Piero remarked: "Problems? Stadiums. We know you have to perform better outside of the pitch [to improve] that. Youth systems as well."

Italian football writer Emmet Gates described the national team as "scarred" by past play-off defeats and suggested the latest loss adds to a growing pattern of disappointment.

Other Surprising World Cup Absences

Italy joins a list of footballing heavyweights who have failed to qualify unexpectedly:

• Argentina 1970: Missed the finals in Mexico after reaching the quarter-finals four years earlier.
• England 1974: Denied a spot in West Germany despite needing a win against Poland.
• Netherlands 1982: Fell short after losing to Belgium, France, and the Republic of Ireland in qualifying.
• England 1994: Missed the USA tournament under Graham Taylor after a 2-0 defeat to Holland.
• Netherlands 2018: Failed to reach Russia despite a strong qualifying squad, continuing a history of missed opportunities.

Italy’s absence from the World Cup underscores a broader struggle in maintaining the standards once set by a powerhouse team, leaving fans and players alike reflecting on a national football system in need of deep reform.