By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team produced one of the biggest upsets in European qualifying history, defeating Italy national football team 4–1 on penalties after a 1–1 draw to book their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The dramatic playoff final in Zenica saw Bosnia overturn an early deficit, outplay the four-time world champions for long spells, and hold their nerve in the shootout to secure only their second-ever World Cup appearance.
Italy made a perfect start, taking the lead in the 15th minute through Moise Kean, who curled home a composed finish to silence the home crowd.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically before halftime when defender Alessandro Bastoni was sent off, reducing Italy to 10 men and altering the complexion of the contest. Bosnia began to dominate possession and territory, probing persistently but struggling to find a breakthrough before the interval.
The hosts continued their relentless push in the second half, creating significantly more chances and pinning Italy deep in their own half.
Their persistence was finally rewarded in the 79th minute when Haris Tabaković reacted quickest in the box to score the equaliser and ignite the home crowd.
Italy, despite being a man down, showed resilience and forced the game into extra time, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making key saves to keep the tie level.
Extra time produced further drama but no decisive goal. Bosnia continued to create the better openings, while Italy relied on counter-attacks and defensive organization to stay alive. Despite late chances on both sides, neither team could find a winner, sending the match to penalties.
In the shootout, Bosnia displayed remarkable composure. They converted all four of their penalties, while Italy faltered, missing two of their first three attempts.
The decisive moment came when Esmir Bajraktarević calmly slotted home the winning penalty, sealing a famous victory and sparking wild celebrations in Zenica.
The result marks a historic milestone for Bosnia and Herzegovina, who return to the World Cup for the first time since their debut appearance in 2014.
For Italy, the defeat deepens a remarkable decline. The four-time world champions will miss a third consecutive World Cup, an unprecedented slump for one of football’s traditional powerhouses.
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