This past international break saw the upcoming World Cup take it's final shape and form. This break focused on the final spots in the tournament. It was filled with heartbreaks and joy. The stand outs were Italy and DR Congo, respectively.
Four-time champions Italy missed out on a third consecutive World Cup after losing to host Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout in its playoff final on Tuesday in Zenica.
With the loss, Italy becomes the first former champions to miss out on three straight World Cups, with none of the team's current players ever having participated.
Moise Kean scored early for Italy but then Azzurri center back, Alessandro Bastoni, was sent off with a direct red card before the break and Bosnia substitute, Haris Tabakovic, equalised in the 79th minute.
The match then went to extra time with the score 1-1 and Italy down to 10 players but neither team scored in the 30 added minutes. In the shootout, Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their spot kicks and U.S.-born Esmir Bajraktarević converted the decisive penalty for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"We still don't believe it - that we're out and that it happened in this manner," Italy defender, Leonardo Spinazzola, said. "It's upsetting for everyone. For us, for our families and for all the kids who have never seen Italy at a World Cup."
The defeat added more misery for Italy's once-proud national team after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in qualifying play-offs for the past two World Cups and last winning a knockout round game in 2006 over France in the final.
In last week's European play-off semi-finals, Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0. Bosnia and Herzegovina eliminated Wales in a penalty shoot-out.
The latest ouster for Italy means that the 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 champions will go at least 16 years without even playing a match at football's biggest event.
Italy's World Cup struggles date back to 2010 and 2014, having failed to advance from its group on both occasions. Italy did win the European Championship in 2021.
The only other World Cup that Italy did not qualify for was in 1958.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will play at a second World Cup following their debut in 2014 and will be in Group B at this summer's tournament alongside co-host, Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
Italy's defeat will raise questions about the status of coach, Gennaro Gattuso, who took over from the fired Luciano Spalletti in June with the squad already in crisis mode following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier.
The Azzurri then went on a six-match winning streak before losing again to Norway in November to finish second in their group and end up in the play-offs again.
Despite the win over Northern Ireland in Bergamo, Italy struggled against Bosnia and Herzegovina inside the intimate but imposing 14 000-seat Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica, which is surrounded by apartment towers overlooking the field.
"I want to personally apologise since we didn't make it," Gattuso said. "Today talking about my future is not important. Today it was important to get to the World Cup."
On paper, it was a massive mis-match between 12th-ranked Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is ranked 54 places below by FIFA. Italy has a population of nearly 60 million. Bosnia's is about 3.5 million.
Bajraktarević, who had the winning penalty, was born in Appleton, Wisconsin. He made his U.S. debut in a January 2024 friendly against Slovenia and then switched affiliation that August.
Arsenal defender, Riccardo Calafiori, won't be at World Cup 2026 after Italy suffered a heartbreaking play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 23-year-old's performance was picked apart by the Italian media.
Calafiori could only watch on as two of his fellow players failed from the spot. The Gunners star didn't avoid being chastised by Italian media for his role in the defeat.
The defender played every minute in the penalty loss on the left side of a back five. According to Corriere dello Sport he was out of his depth even before Bastoni's sending off.
"Bastoni's dismissal unfortunately just made things even worse, forcing us into eighty minutes of pure delirium," it reported. "The usual, unbearable suffering [followed]. A feeling that has become part of us."
"They [Bosnia and Herzegovina] overwhelmed us, made us feel awful, took our breath away. One after another, all our flaws, our lapses in concentration and athleticism, emerged. We were never aggressive. We suffered the desire and determination of a team that today I can't consider inferior to ours."
"Qualification had become a matter of national dignity. Not being part of a tournament open to 48 nations is downright humiliating. Those who created the project, those who wanted and supported it, cannot tolerate this third failure. At home. Like us. Everyone must assume their own responsibility. Even if the country, politics, and this non-system seem incapable of expressing anything good."
Another publication, Corriere della Sera, aimed an almost backhanded compliment the way of Calafiori in their post-match analysis. A report read: "We can expect more [from Calafiori]. Elegance isn't enough."
The outlet's frustrations were clear in another report, which claimed: "It's happened again and it's been three. Three World Cups in a row without Italy. In June, we'll experience another one in front of the TV."
"Until then, trials, revolutions, and an oppressive sense of humiliation that will accompany us all summer. Little Bosnia is celebrating, we're behind the blackboard."
"Italy is the only national team with a star on its chest that won't be going to Canada, Mexico, and the United States. We're disappointed, bitter, angry. Worse, furious."
"A vertical decline in the extra-large World Cup, the first with 48 teams, bringing 32 to the second phase. We're losing money and opportunities. Other sports are flying, football is dying. We will wake up in the night and struggle to swallow the sadness."
Italian politicians and fans are calling for heads to roll at the country’s football federation, after the four-time world champions failed to reach the men’s World Cup for the third consecutive time.
The Azzurri suffered a humiliating defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout on Tuesday night after a 1-1 draw in their World Cup play-off. The Italians, ranked 12th in the world by governing body FIFA, had failed to qualify automatically for this summer’s tournament after finishing behind Norway in their group.
They also missed the last two World Cups in Qatar in 2022 and Russia in 2018. Their struggles stretch back further — they haven't made it to the tournament’s knockout phase since 2006.
The loss has unleashed widespread anger in football-obsessed Italy, with the sports minister and other members of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s governing coalition calling for football federation chief, Gabriele Gravina, to resign.
"This is an unacceptable shame. Italian football needs to be rebuilt from scratch," the far-right League party, a coalition member, said in a statement.
The recriminations rang through parliament, with some on the hard right calling for new rules to limit the number of foreign players in the Italian league.
Salvatore Caiata, a lawmaker from Meloni’s Brothers of Italy, echoed the call for Gravina’s exit, lamenting that a generation of young Italians had never watched Italy compete in the World Cup. "We’re not just talking about a sporting event; we’re talking about a moment of great togetherness — a dreamlike moment," said Caiata.
Gravina has dismissed calls to stand down but conceded that Italian football was now facing a, "profound crisis."
Head coach Gennaro Gattuso said the defeat was, "a blow that’s difficult to digest." "It hurts, because we needed it for us, for all of Italy,” he said after the game. “I would have given up years of my life, money, for us to achieve our goal."
Italy’s newspapers carried news of the defeat across their front pages, many accompanied by a photo of player Pio Esposito lying horizontal on the turf, his face buried in his hands.
"Well go home," declared La Gazzetta dello Sport. La Stampa proclaimed the result a "World Disaster," while many others spoke of the team’s "curse."
Some sports fans demanded the resurrection of a plan to overhaul the country’s football drafted by Italian legend, Roberto Baggio — also known as the Divine Ponytail, due to the hairstyle of his playing years.
In 2011, Baggio — then president of the technical section of the Italian Football Federation — wrote a 900-page plan to rebuild and modernise Italy’s football system from the ground up.
It was formally approved but funding never came. Baggio angrily resigned two years later, calling his overhaul scheme a "dead letter."
Once the richest and most popular football league in the world, Italy’s Serie A has been in decline for years due to a lack of investment both on and off the pitch.
Its media rights sell for much less — both domestically and internationally — than those of the English Premier League and Spain’s La Liga, while no Italian club features in the world’s 10 wealthiest by revenue, according to Deloitte.
However, the competition has attracted international capital. Three of the biggest teams — Inter Milan, AC Milan and AS Roma — are owned by U.S. investors, along with some smaller clubs including Atalanta and Fiorentina.
Efforts to upgrade and invest in Italy’s creaking football infrastructure often run into fierce local resistance.
This week, Italy’s finance police raided Milan’s City Hall as part of a criminal investigation into last year’s €200mn sale of the 100-year-old San Siro stadium to Inter Milan and AC Milan, who share the venue and plan to demolish and replace it with a new arena better suited to the needs of modern sport.
Their latest failure to reach international football's premier competition has drawn widespread criticism from fans, journalists and politicians, with calls for Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina to resign.
"It is an unacceptable disgrace. Italian football needs a complete overhaul, starting with the resignation of Gabriele Gravina," the League Party, a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition, wrote on Instagram.
Italy's sport minister, Andrea Abodi, has also called for sweeping changes within the FIGC. "It's clear that Italian football needs to be rebuilt from the ground up and that starts with changes at the top of the FIGC," Abodi said in a statement.
Supporters watched the Azzurri in establishments across the country, hoping their third successive World Cup play-off campaign might end differently than the previous two, when they lost against Sweden in 2018 and North Macedonia in 2022.
They returned home at the end of the night with a familiar sinking feeling. "It makes no sense. Honestly, I'm shocked," Davide Caldaretta, who watched the game at a city pub, told news agency Reuters.
"[We feel] really upset and disappointed. Even when you're let down, you always hold out hope. And this is the third time in a row," Melanie Cardillo added.
Gianluigi Donnarumma said he "cried because of the enormous sadness" of not being able to lead Italy to the 2026 World Cup this summer, following their penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Italy have now failed to qualify for three successive World Cups, drawing 1-1 on Tuesday before losing their play-off final 4-1 on penalties, having lost Alessandro Bastoni to a first-half red card.
Goalkeeper Donnarumma made numerous saves in the second half but during the shootout appeared to get into an argument with Bosnia goalkeeper, Nikola Vasilj, with reports claiming the Italian captain damaged Vasilj's penalty-takers cheat sheet.
He also had to be held back by his team-mates at full-time after trying to confront the celebrating Bosnia players.
"Last night, after the match, I cried. I cried because of the disappointment of not being able to lead Italy where it deserves to be," Donnarumma wrote on Instagram., external
He failed to save any of the penalties while Italy's Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed theirs.
"I cried because of the enormous sadness I'm feeling, along with the entire Azzurri team, of which I'm proud to be captain, and I know you, fans of our national team, are feeling it too," Donnarumma added.
The Manchester City keeper, who was handed his senior debut in 2016 aged 17, is yet to play at a World Cup and will have to wait until he is at least 31 for his next opportunity.
He was 15 when Italy lost against Uruguay and exited the 2014 World Cup in the group stage. He wrote it would take "a lot of strength, passion, and conviction" to restore his country "back where it deserves to be."
The former Paris St-Germain and AC Milan keeper added: "Always believe; this is the driving force behind moving forward. Because life knows how to reward those who give their all, without holding back."
"And this is where we must start again. Together. Once again."
Also Read: An Unprecedented Downfall
While Italy are Italy are mourning, DR Congo are rejoicing.
DR Congo defeated Jamaica, 1-0, in extra time in a winner-take-all World Cup play-off final at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico, on Tuesday, 31 March.
With the victory, Congo earned a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will make its first appearance in the tournament since 1974, when it was known as Zaire.
The African side earned its spot in the FIFA intercontinental play-off final by beating Nigeria on penalties in the CAF playoff final.
Authorities in the Democratic Republic Congo have declared Wednesday a public holiday after the national football team qualified for their first World Cup in 52 years.
The Leopards reached the finals on Tuesday when Axel Tuanzebe's extra-time goal gave them a 1-0 win over Jamaica in the play-off. DR Congo's ministry of labour and employment said that as a result of the "historic" victory, the nation could have the day off work to "celebrate in unity, fervour and national pride."
The central African nation has only played in the World Cup once before - in 1974 when the country was named Zaire.
Numerous employers honoured the holiday on Wednesday, with many banks and shops shut throughout the day in the capital, Kinshasa.
However some employers proceeded with the work day as normal as the announcement - made at approximately 08:00 local time (07:00 GMT) - came at such short notice.
Tuesday's match was an intense affair, with former Manchester United player Tuanzebe only breaking the deadlock in the 100th minute. Elated football fans celebrated in Kinshasa after the team's victory was confirmed just before 01:00 local time on Wednesday morning.
One supporter told the BBC: "Whatever we may be feeling at the moment, amidst pain and war and occupation, this victory makes us proud...I feel so emotional and happy."
DR Congo has been battered by decades of conflict. The fighting escalated early last year when the M23 rebel group captured swathes of territory in the country's east.
Although neighbouring Rwanda is widely believed to be supporting the M23 and the two countries' leaders have exchanged bitter insults in recent years, Rwanda's government has congratulated DR Congo on qualifying.
Deputy government spokesperson, Jean Maurice Uwera, said in a post on X: "Leopards stepping up for Africa! Congratulations DR Congo, go make the continent proud on the world stage."
In the Kinshasa neighbourhood of Kingabwa, some fans took to the streets chanting: "Cristiano Ronaldo is next".
DR Congo's first match will be against Ronaldo's Portugal in the US city of Houston on 17 June. They will also play Colombia and Uzbekistan in the group stages.
DR Congo are the 10th African nation to reach this year's expanded World Cup finals, jointly hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.
Born in Bunia, a city hit by the ongoing conflict, Tuanzebe said Tuesday night's goal was "without a doubt the most important" of his career. "I'm so grateful to have scored that goal for the team, for the nation. I realise the magnitude of what it represents and the joy it brings to people."
Joy and emotion filled the streets of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as fans celebrated their national team’s historic qualification for the World Cup — the country’s first in more than five decades.
Scenes of jubilation erupted in Kinshasa in the early hours of Wednesday, as thousands flooded the rain-soaked streets to celebrate the DR Congo Leopards' qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
There was a carnival atmosphere in Kinshasa as thousands of fans poured into rain-soaked streets, celebrating a moment decades in the making, the DR Congo national team securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
On the pitch, scenes of joy mirrored those unfolding back home. Players danced and embraced, while in Kinshasa, jubilant supporters sang, waved flags, and braved the downpour in a spontaneous outpouring of national pride.
In Goma, where residents have endured months of instability and economic hardship, the victory offered a rare moment of relief and unity.
Mélisse Bitwenge, a football fan said: "We're already in Goma and we're under a lot of stress, but the 'Leopards' have just helped us forget all that. We're so happy, you can tell I've even lost my voice with joy."
For many supporters, the qualification is more than just a sporting achievement — it is a historic milestone shared across generations.
Another fan, Christian Mihigo, said: "Today is truly a historic day, we are full of joy as you can see! DRCongo’s qualification after 52 years is historic, because it was our parents who last saw us at the World Cup, but today we are part of a story that we will tell our children!"
The Congolese team now joins other nations in the World Cup lineup, carrying with them the hopes of a country eager to celebrate both its footballing revival and a moment of national pride.
It's sad that Italy won't be going to the World Cup. Something definitely needs to be done to change their fortunes. Three straight mises isn't acceptable. It's a real shame that a former champion won't be able to win another title.
It's amazing that DR Congo will be going to the global event. Winning in extra time just adds to the drama and emotions. It's always fascinating seeing an "outsider" participating in a tournament.