Overview
- Italy, which drew 1-1 before losing 4-1 on penalties Tuesday, failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup for a third straight finals.
- Reduced to 10 men by a red card, Italy gave up a second-half equaliser that pushed the playoff into a shootout.
- In the penalties, Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their kicks, and Gianluigi Donnarumma did not save any of Bosnia’s attempts.
- Donnarumma said he cried after the loss and urged fans and teammates to stay together to bring the national team back to where it belongs.
- FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said he asked coach Gennaro Gattuso to stay, highlighting a reset for a veteran core that still lacks World Cup experience.