Bosnia and Herzegovina leave Italy without 2026 World Cup with thrilling 4-1 penalty shootout win

Bosnia defeated Italy 4-1 in a penalty shootout to clinch a spot in the 2026 World Cup and you lived every moment with Bolavip!

Bosnia clinch a spot in the 2026 World Cup!!

Bryan Cristante misses Italy's third penalty!

Kerim Alajbegovic scores Bosnia's third penalty!

Sandro Tonali scores Italy's second penalty!

Tabakovic scores Bosnia's second penalty!

Pio Esposito misses Italy's first penalty!

Benjamin Tahirovic scores Bosnia's first penalty!

The tension at Bilino Polje Stadium is at a breaking point! After 120 minutes of a 1–1 deadlock, a ticket to the 2026 World Cup will be decided from the penalty spot.

Davide Frattesi received a yellow card.

Following a corner kick, the ball fell perfectly for Benjamin Tahirovic on the edge of the box. He unleashed a thunderous strike that fizzed just inches wide of Donnarumma’s post, nearly snatching a victory in the dying seconds!

Ermedin Demirovic was replaced by Amir Hadziahmetovic.

Nikola Katic received a yellow card.

If the score remains deadlocked through these final minutes, a ticket to the 2026 World Cup will be decided by the drama of a penalty shootout.

The second half of overtime begins, with both sides pushing for a decisive goal to secure a place in the 2026 World Cup.

The first half of extra time comes to a close with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy still locked at 1-1.

Pio Esposito connected with a powerful header that looked destined for the back of the net, but Nikola Vasilj produced an incredible reaction save to keep the scores level!

Tarik Muharemovic received a yellow card.

With a man advantage, the hosts are throwing everything forward in extra time. Bosnia are camping in the Italian half, relentlessly hunting for the decisive goal that would secure their place in the 2026 World Cup.

Federico Dimarco was replaced by Leonardo Spinazzola.

The first half of overtime is underway!

After a 1-1 draw, the game goes to overtime!

The referee added three more minutes!

After a great header by Demirovic, Donnarumma saved Italy once again to keep the score 1-1!

Nicolo Barella was replaced by Davide Frattesi.

Gianluigi Donnarumma received a yellow card.

Haris Tabakovic scores the equalizer!!

After a well-worked attacking sequence, Federico Dimarco found a pocket of space inside the box, but his low strike flashed wide of Nikola Vasilj’s far post.

Benjamin Tahirovic nearly leveled the score with a stinging effort, but Gianluigi Donnarumma stepped up once more with a heroic save to preserve Italy’s slim lead!

Bosnia: Ivan Basic and Amar Memic were replaced by Haris Tabakovic and Dzenis Burnic.

Italy: Moise Kean and Manuel Locatelli were replaced by Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante.

Despite playing a man down, the Azzurri are surprisingly dominant in the second half. Italy are dictating the flow with 64% possession, showing total superiority over Bosnia as they look to protect their lead.

Moise Kean stripped the ball in midfield and sprinted clear for a massive one-on-one opportunity against the keeper, but he sent his strike soaring over the crossbar!

Benjamin Tahirovic received a yellow card after a foul on Tonali.

Alajbegovic unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box, but Donnarumma made a great save to keep the score 1-0.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ivan Sunjic and Sead Kolasinac were replaced by Benjamin Tahirovic and Kerim Alajbegovic.

Italy: Matteo Politano was replaced by Marco Palestra.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy are already playing the second half!

Bosnia and Herzegovina started the match in strong form, but a costly blunder by goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj allowed Moise Kean to open the scoring in the 14th minute, shifting the momentum of the first half.

Following the goal, Italy dictated the tempo of the game, but the dynamic changed again in the 41st minute when Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card following a harsh challenge on Memic. Now, the Azzurri must protect their lead playing with ten men as they fight to secure their return to the World Cup stage.

The game goes to halftime!

For the second time tonight, Bosnia defender  Katic wins the aerial duel, but once again, Gianluigi Donnarumma is there to pull off a save.

Italy's Mateo Retegui was replaced by Federico Gatti.

Alessandro Bastoni received a red card!

Demirovic rises highest to connect with a header, but the ball whistles agonizingly past the post as Bosnia narrowly miss out on drawing level!

The winner of this game will go to Group B of the World Cup, where Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland await.

The Azzurri are dominating proceedings with 64% possession, looking far superior to the hosts as they dictate the tempo of the match.

Nikola Katic nearly found the equalizer with a powerful header, but Gianluigi Donnarumma was perfectly positioned to make the save and maintain Italy's lead.

Following a massive blunder by the Bosnian goalkeeper that gifted Italy the opening goal, the hosts are pushing hard for an immediate equalizer. However, the Italian defense remains organized and compact.

Moise Kean scores the opener of the game!!

The home side has started the stronger of the two, dictating the tempo and gradually pushing deep into the Italian half during the first 10 minutes of play.

Ermedin Demirovic registered the first shot on target of the game, that Donnarumma saved easily.

The game between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy is underway!

Players from both teams are on the field for their national anthems. Everything is ready for the start of the match!

Italy face three distinct scenarios for today’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. A win would send them to the Group B of the World Cup, alongisde Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

A draw after 90 minutes would send the match into extra time, consisting of two 15-minute halves. If the deadlock persists, a penalty shootout will determine the winner. However, if Italy lose today, they will be officially eliminated, marking a historic third consecutive World Cup absence for the Azzurri.

French referee Clement Turpin has been appointed to officiate the clash between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy. He will be joined on the field by Nicolas Danos and Benjamin Pages, who are set to serve as the assistant referees.

Full officiating team:

• Referee: Clement Turpin (FRA)
• Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos (FRA)
• Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pages (FRA)
• Fourth official: Jose Maria Sanchez (SPA)
• VAR: Jerome Brisard (FRA)

Players for both sides have taken the field for warmups at the Bilino Polje Stadium!

Bosnia and Herzegovina's starting XI: Vasilj; Memic, Muharemovic, Katic, Kolasinac; Dedic, Sunjic, Basic; Demirovic, Dzeko, Bajraktarevic.

Italy's starting XI: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Gianluca Mancini, Alessandro Bastoni, Riccardo Calafiori; Matteo Politano, Sandro Tonali, Manuel Locatelli, Nicolo Barella, Federico Dimarco; Mateo Retegui, Moise Kean.

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy will get underway at the Bilino Polje Stadium at 2:45 PM (ET).

Fubo will be the primary option to watch Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy in the USA. The other options to enjoy the game are: DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue FS1 and ViX.

Welcome to our live blog of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers! Bosnia and Herzegovina host Italy in Zenica for the Path A playoff final, where only one team will clinch its spot in the prestigious tournament!

Stay with us for all the action and minute-by-minute updates of this exciting game!