Italy's national team misses the World Cup for the third consecutive time.

A bitter defeat against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the playoff round officially dashed Italy's hopes for the 2026 World Cup.

This marks the third consecutive absence of the "Azzurri" at the planet's biggest football festival, following the 2018 and 2022 editions—a sad, unprecedented record for a team that has won the World Cup four times.

In the crucial match, Italy started decently, taking the lead thanks to Moise Kean's goal. However, a turning point occurred just before halftime when defender Alessandro Bastoni received a red card, leaving the visitors to play with only ten men. From then on, the momentum completely shifted to Bosnia & Herzegovina.

In the second half, the relentless pressure from the home team finally paid off with Haris Tabakovic's equalizer in the 78th minute, making it 1-1. Despite goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's outstanding saves keeping hope alive for Italy, the "Azzurri" couldn't hold their ground in the penalty shootout, losing 1-4 and ultimately accepting defeat.

This result pushes Italy into a forgettable milestone: becoming the first World Cup-winning team in history unable to qualify for three consecutive tournaments. Their last appearance at this stage was in 2014, and their last deep run was the championship victory in 2006.

The prolonged slump clearly reflects instability in organization and squad building. After the success at EURO 2021 under Roberto Mancini, Italy's national team underwent frequent coaching changes. Luciano Spalletti couldn't maintain stability and was soon dismissed, before Gennaro Gattuso was appointed for too short a period to make an impact.

Additionally, the lack of standout attacking players is a major issue. Names like Retegui or Pio Esposito aren't yet at the level to shoulder the scoring responsibility, while the midfield lacks the necessary dynamism.

Missing yet another World Cup is not only a shock for Italian fans but also a warning bell for one of the world's most tradition-rich football nations.