Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup as a play-off defeat on penalties to Bosnia and Hercegovina on Tuesday meant the Azzurri will not go to this year’s tournament in North America, while Turkiye, the Czech Republic and Sweden all secured their places at the finals.

Italy have won the World Cup four times, but they failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments and will once again have to watch from afar as the field is expanded to 48 teams in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Bosnia won 4-1 in the shoot-out in Zenica after their play-off final finished 1-1 at the end of extra time, with Sandro Tonali the only Italy player to score from the spot as Francesco Pio Esposito blazed their first penalty over and Bryan Cristante smashed his kick against the crossbar.

Moise Kean had given Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy the lead on 15 minutes, but they were reduced to 10 men when Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card late in the first half.

Bosnia equalised on 79 minutes through Haris Tabakovic, and with no further goals in extra time, the tie was decided on penalties.

“I don’t think the boys deserved to suffer such a blow,” said Gattuso. “It’s difficult to digest.”

Ranked 66th in the world, Bosnia finished second in qualifying Group H behind Austria before beating Wales on penalties in their play-off semi-final.

Their only previous World Cup appearance came in 2014. Now they go into Group B at this year’s tournament along with Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland.

The 2014 edition is the last time Italy qualified. They went out in the group stage, like in 2010. They have not won a World Cup knockout game since they last lifted the trophy in 2006.

In 2018, they failed to qualify after losing a two-legged play-off final to Sweden, and they also missed out in 2022 after losing a play-off to North Macedonia.

Kosovo dream over

Turkiye qualified as Kerem Akturkoglu’s 53rd-minute goal secured a 1-0 win in Kosovo, shattering their hosts’ dream of appearing at the tournament for the first time.

It will be Turkiye´s first appearance at a World Cup since reaching the semi-finals in 2002. Vincenzo Montella’s team will go into Group D along with co-hosts the United States, Paraguay, and Australia.

Montella’s side is ranked 22nd in the world, but this will only be Turkiye´s third ever appearance at the World Cup — they went to the 1954 tournament before coming third 24 years ago in South Korea and Japan.

“We achieved our dreams. The World Cup is the pinnacle in this profession,” Montella told UEFA.com.

Kosovo, ranked 78th, were targeting a first-ever World Cup appearance, having only been accepted as a Fifa member a decade ago.

Gyokeres heroics, Danes denied

Sweden recovered from a desperate performance in the group stage of qualifying to secure their place at the finals in dramatic fashion.

Having beaten Ukraine 3-1 in last week’s semi-final, they edged Poland 3-2 in Stockholm, with Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres scoring an 88th-minute winner.

Earlier, Sweden had twice taken the lead only to be pegged back, with Anthony Elanga’s opener on 20 minutes cancelled out by Nicola Zalewski, only for Gustaf Lagerbielke to put the hosts back in front before half-time.

Karol Swiderski got Poland’s second early in the second half, but Gyokeres forced the ball over the line after a frantic goalmouth scramble late on.

They finished bottom of qualifying Group B without a win, but secured a play-off spot thanks to their performances in the UEFA Nations League.

Now coached by Englishman Graham Potter, they will go into Group F at the World Cup along with the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia.

The Czech Republic matched Bosnia’s achievement by qualifying thanks to back-to-back shoot-out victories, as they followed their success against Ireland last week by defeating Denmark 3-1 on penalties in Prague.

The match finished 2-2 after extra time, with Pavel Sulc firing the hosts ahead only for Joachim Andersen to head the Danes level.

Ladislav Krejci then put the Czechs back in front in extra time, but Kasper Hogh made it 2-2.

However, Denmark converted just one of their four penalties, with Rasmus Hojlund, Anders Dreyer and Mathias Jensen all failing from the spot as the Czechs qualify for a first World Cup since 2006.

They go into Group A with South Africa, South Korea and Mexico.

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 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 equalized 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.

“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 playoffs for the past two World Cups and last won a knockout round game in 2006 over France in the final.

In last week’s European playoff semifinals, Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0. Bosnia eliminated Wales in a penalty shootout.

In Tuesday’s other European playoff finals, Sweden and Türkiye each qualified. Sweden beat Poland 3-2 and Turkey beat Kosovo 1-0. Czechia also qualified after beating Denmark in a shootout.

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 soccer’s biggest event.

Italy’s World Cup struggles date 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 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 playoffs again.

Despite the win over Northern Ireland in Bergamo, Italy struggled against Bosnia 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 apologize 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 mismatch between 12th-ranked Italy and Bosnia, 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.

In Tuesday’s other pivotal games, Viktor Gyökeres scored in the 88th minute to earn the Swedes a 3-2 win over Poland, five days after netting a hat trick in the playoff semifinal victory over Ukraine.

Poland great Robert Lewandowski, 37, was hoping to qualify for what probably would have been his final World Cup.

Former Chelsea and West Ham coach Graham Potter was hired by Sweden last year — initially on a short-term deal — with one goal: to get the team to the World Cup. He succeeded.

Sweden reached the quarterfinals in its last World Cup appearance in 2018.

Türkiye will be in the United States‘ group at the World Cup after winning 1-0 at Kosovo to reach soccer’s biggest stage for the first time since 2002.

Kosovo were hoping to qualify for the World Cup for the first time, fewer than 10 years since the national team was out of the international soccer family.

It was in May 2016 that Kosovo and Gibraltar were voted into FIFA as its 210th and 211th member federations. That was eight years after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.

Kosovo had the best chance of an entertaining first half, but Türkiye goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır pulled off a superb one-handed save to push Fisnik Asllani‘s strike onto the crossbar.

Türkiye got the breakthrough eight minutes into the second half. Kerem Aktürkoğlu got the finest of touches to ensure Orkun Kökçü‘s cross-shot went into the far bottom corner.

Türkiye joins the U.S. in Group D, along with Paraguay and Australia.

Czechia reached its first World Cup since 2006 with a penalty shootout victory over Denmark following a 2-2 draw.

Michal Sadílek converted the winning spot kick in the 3-1 penalty shootout win. It was Czechia’s second straight victory on penalties after also prevailing on spot kicks against Ireland in the semifinal.

Czechia will face co-hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in Group A.

Information from The Associated Press and PA was used in this report.

CHICAGO — Wrigley Field will host a women’s college volleyball doubleheader to highlight the Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week in September.

The conferences announced Monday that Nebraska will play Missouri and Penn State will meet Kentucky at the home of the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 6. Matchups between Big Ten and SEC programs will be played at home sites beginning Sept. 1.

“Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week culminating at Wrigley Field brings together the highest level of women’s volleyball competition, at one of the most iconic venues in the country,” Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti said. “As women’s volleyball participation, sponsorship, attendance and viewership continue to grow, we look forward to providing this unique opportunity to showcase the exceptional competition.”

The matches will mark the first time volleyball has been played at Wrigley Field. Both outdoor matches will be broadcast live on Fox.

“Bringing the SEC and Big Ten together for a championship-caliber volleyball showcase, culminating at an iconic venue like Wrigley Field, reflects the extraordinary momentum of the sport,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. “This initiative not only elevates volleyball on a national stage but also underscores a continued growth and investment in women’s athletics.”

Penn State has won eight national championships, most recently in 2024. Nebraska has won five titles, with the most recent in 2017. Kentucky won the 2020 championship and was runner-up to Texas A&M last season.

Nebraska hosted a women’s volleyball doubleheader at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Aug. 30, 2023, and attendance of 92,003 was the largest ever documented for a women’s sporting event in the world.