Italy suffered a stunning World Cup qualifier exit, losing 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina after a 1-1 draw. Despite taking an early lead, a red card left Italy with 10 men, allowing Bosnia to equalize. Italy missed crucial penalties, marking their third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup, raising questions about the team’s consistency.

Zenica [Bosnia and Herzegovina]: In a stunning turn of events during the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers final, Italy suffered a heartbreaking exit from the World Cup qualification race after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a tense penalty shootout (4-1), marking their third consecutive failure to reach the global tournament.

Italy, a four-time World Cup champion, once again found itself on the wrong side of fortune, extending a disappointing run that has raised serious questions about the team's consistency and ability to perform in crucial matches. Having already missed the previous two editions of the tournament, the latest setback further compounds the nation's prolonged footballing struggles on the international stage.

Italy began the match on a positive note, with forward Moise Kean putting his side ahead in the 15th minute, giving hope to the visiting side. However, the momentum shifted significantly before the halftime break when centre-back Alessandro Bastoni was shown a direct red card, reducing Italy to 10 men and putting them under immense pressure for the remainder of the contest.

In the second half, Bosnia and Herzegovina capitalised on their numerical advantage and gradually increased the intensity of their attacks. Their persistence paid off in the 79th minute when Haris Tabakovic found the back of the net to bring the hosts level, sending the home crowd into celebration and pushing the game into a tense finale.