• Italy loses to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout, missing a third consecutive World Cup.
• The match ended 1-1 after extra time, with Bosnia winning 4-1 on penalties.
• This marks Italy's third straight failure to qualify, following their absence in 2018 and 2022.
• Mois Kean opened the scoring for Italy, but they were reduced to ten men due to a red card.
• Bosnia secured their place in Group B of the World Cup, facing Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar.

Italy's struggle to qualify for the World Cup continued on March 31, as they fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in Zenica. This defeat marks the third consecutive World Cup that four-time champions Italy will miss, having previously failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 editions, according to Al Jazeera, Reuters, Le Monde, Channel News Asia, and Channel News Asia.

The match started positively for Italy as Moise Kean scored in the 15th minute, but disaster struck when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off just before the break for a foul, forcing Italy to play with ten men for most of the match. Haris Tabakovic equalized for Bosnia in the 79th minute, leading the match into extra time, according to Reuters and Le Monde.

During the penalty shootout, Italy faltered with both their first and third penalties missed, while Bosnia successfully converted all four of theirs. Esmir Bajraktarevic scored the decisive penalty that sent Bosnia to the World Cup, which will take place in North America, facing Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar in Group B, as reported by Al Jazeera, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.

Italy's coach, Gennaro Gattuso, expressed pride in his team's effort despite the loss, stating, "I don't think the boys deserved to suffer such a blow... I'm proud of the boys." Italy's performance continues to draw scrutiny, as they become the first former World Cup champions to miss out on three consecutive tournaments, according to Le Monde and Channel News Asia.

Bosnia's triumph, on the other hand, is historic as they achieve qualification to their second World Cup finals, the first since 2014, with wild celebrations erupting among their supporters after the victory, indicating a significant milestone in their football history, according to Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.