Haris Tabakovic forced extra time with an equalizer in the second half, and eventually, penalties sealed Italy’s fate. For the third time in a row, the Italians will watch the World Cup from home.

Having already missed the 2018 and 2022 events, Italy are now the first World Cup-winning country to miss three consecutive editions of the tournament.

This heartbreaking result only increases the crisis of one of the most storied nations in soccer history, as we’re talking about a team that won four World Cups — only one less than Brazil, who hold the record for most triumphs.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2026 World Cup schedule

With Bosnia and Herzegovina taking down Italy for a 2026 World Cup berth, Group B is set and so is its schedule. Bosnia and Herzegovina will make their debut against co-host Canada on June 12 at 3:00 PM ET at BMO Field in Toronto.

Six days later, they will travel to the West Coast to play Switzerland at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kickoff for that game on June 18 is also set at 3:00 PM ET.

The group stage finale will see Bosnia and Herzegovina taking on Qatar at Lumen Field in Seattle on June 24 at 3:00 PM ET.

With the loss, Wales are officially eliminated from 2026 World Cup contention, while Bosnia move on to a winner-take-all playoff final against Italy. For the Dragons, the long road to redemption begins now, as they must wait until the 2030 qualifying cycle for another shot at the World Cup stage.

The Welsh side appeared to have one foot in the final until the 86th minute, when ageless wonder Edin Dzeko found the back of the net to level the score and force the match into extra time. After a scoreless additional 30 minutes, Bosnia proved more clinical from the spot to secure their advancement.

The final boss for Bosnia: Italy

Standing in their way is an Italian side that made quick work of Northern Ireland in their respective semifinal. Unlike the gritty battle in Zenica, the Azzurri dominated from the opening whistle, controlling possession and dispatching the Green and White Army with ease to set up this massive collision.

Date and venue for Italy and Bosnia

The playoff final is set for March 31 at Bilino Polje Stadium. Per the UEFA draw, the winner of the Wales-Bosnia bracket earned the right to host the final, giving Wales a massive “12th man” advantage in front of a home crowd.

High stakes in the ‘group of death’

The winner of this Tuesday’s fixture won’t just earn a spot in the 2026 World Cup, they’ll be dropping straight into the fire. The qualifying nation will join Group B alongside hosts Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar.

Given the tactical discipline of the Swiss and the home-field energy of the Canadians, Group B is already being labeled by many as the tournament’s “Group of Death.”

With both rosters expected to be at full strength, the stage is set for a historic night in Zenica.

The Czech Republic will face Denmark on Tuesday, March 31, with a ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 on the line. The winner of this tie will join Group A alongside Mexico, South Africa, and Korea Republic. The loser, on the other hand, will return home empty-handed.

In the event of a draw in regular time, the match will proceed to extra time. If the draw persists in overtime (two periods of 15 minutes each), the winner will be decided on penalties.

How many World Cups have Ireland played so far and when was their last appearance?

Ireland have made it to three World Cups so far, advancing from the group stage every time. Their last appearance came in 2002, with the Boys in Green being knocked out by Spain in the round of 16 after a dramatic 1-1 draw that led to a 3-2 shootout win for La Roja.

Ireland came from another round of 16 elimination in USA 1994, when the Netherlands beat them 2-0 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

What’s Ireland’s best result at a World Cup?

Ireland’s first World Cup appearance in 1990 saw them reach the quarterfinals, which remains their best result to date. That year, it all ended with a 1-0 loss to hosts Italy, who lost to eventual runners-up Argentina in the following round.

The breakthrough came early in the second half, with Mikkel Damsgaard opening the scoring in the 49th minute. Gustav Isaksen followed with a quick-fire brace in the 58th and 59th minutes, before Christian Norgaard sealed the result with a goal in the 75th minute, completing a comprehensive victory.

With the win, Denmark now advance to face Czechia in the playoff finals scheduled for March 31, 2026 as the UEFA 2026 World Cup playoff tournament comes to an end.

Can Denmark secure another World Cup appearance?

The upcoming playoff final represents a critical opportunity for Denmark to return to the World Cup after participating in Qatar 2022. With a balanced squad and strong recent form, the team appears well-equipped to handle the pressure.

If they maintain the same intensity and attacking efficiency shown against North Macedonia, Denmark will be in a strong position to secure qualification and continue building on their steady international track record.

Denmark’s strong World Cup track record

Historically, Denmark have been a consistent presence on the global stage, qualifying for six World Cups, with their best result coming in 1998 when they reached the quarterfinals.

The encounter at the New Balance Arena began with high intensity from the hosts, but Michael O’Neill’s men deployed a disciplined defensive block that frustrated Italy’s creative efforts. Despite dominating possession, the Italians struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half, heading into the locker room with the score tied at 0-0.

Gennaro Gattuso’s men emerged for the second half with renewed determination. The deadlock was finally broken in the 64th minute when Sandro Tonali unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box that sent the Bergamo crowd into a frenzy.

With Northern Ireland forced to push forward for an equalizer, Italy found more space to operate. They officially sealed the result ten minutes from time when Moise Kean provided a clinical finish to make it 2-0, ending any hopes of a late comeback. With this victory, they move on to the Path A Final on Tuesday, March 31. Italy will face the winner of the other semifinal between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The European governing body released a statement lamenting that the circumstances didn’t allow the match to take place in Qatar, which was the initial plan.

“It is a source of great disappointment to UEFA and the organizers that circumstances and timing have denied the teams of the chance to compete for this prestigious prize in Qatar – a country that has demonstrated time and again its capability of staging world class international events in state-of-the-art facilities,” the statement read.

UEFA claims Argentina rejected its proposals

UEFA also made it clear that it had every intention to move the Finalissima to another venue, but claimed that Argentina didn’t accept any of its proposals.

“With strong determination to save the important fixture, and despite the understandable difficulties of relocating a match of such importance at extremely short notice, UEFA explored other feasible alternatives but each ultimately proved unacceptable to the Argentinian Football Association,” the UEFA statement added.

The original 2026 Finalissima plan

The Finalissima, which pits the defending UEFA Euro champions against the reigning Copa America winners, was reintroduced in 2022 with Argentina beating Italy 3-0 at Wembley.

The team led by Lionel Messi repeated its Copa America title in 2024, which is why it was set to face Spain, who lifted the European Championship that same year.

Lusail Stadium in Qatar, home to the 2022 World Cup final, was set to host the big match before the geopolitical situation affecting the country forced UEFA and Conmebol to explore alternatives.

The options proposed by UEFA and rejected by Argentina

According to UEFA, multiple options were proposed but rejected by Argentina. The first one was to play the Finalissima at the Santiago Bernabeu on the original date, with a 50:50 split of supporters. Still, Argentina felt that Spain would feel like the home team in such scenario.

The second option proposed by UEFA and rejected by Argentina, according to the statement, was to play the Finalissima over two legs – one at the Santiago Bernabeu on 27 March and the other in Buenos Aires during an international window before the UEFA EURO and Copa America 2028, “again offering a supporter split of 50:50 for the match in Madrid.”

UEFA added that it “sought a commitment from Argentina that, if a neutral venue in Europe could be found, the game could go ahead on 27 March, as planned and announced on 18 December 2025, or on the alternative date of 30 March. This proposal was also rejected.“

The alternative ideas from Argentina rejected by UEFA

The European governing body admitted that Argentina also had proposals, first countering with an idea to play the Finalissima after the 2026 World Cup. However, UEFA ruled it out, claiming that Spain have no available dates.

UEFA also considered “unworkable” to play on March 31, with Argentina allegedly declaring their availability to play “exclusively” on that date.

The Finalissima between Spain and Argentina can reportedly be rescheduled, though now it seems to be too soon to tell when this match could finally take place.

According to Edul, CONMEBOL proposed to UEFA that the Finalissima be played in Italy—likely in Rome—on March 31. Should the European delegation reject the proposal, the insider noted that the match would be canceled.

Amid this uncertainty, various European media outlets are reporting that the Finalissima is headed toward cancellation. Currently, neither UEFA nor CONMEBOL has issued a response regarding a possible rescheduling, and a final decision is expected to be known in the coming hours or early Sunday.

The South American entity’s stance regarding the possibility of playing at the Santiago Bernabeu is entirely negative, as they consider that Spain would be the home team in that context, while the match should take place on neutral ground. However, reports indicate that UEFA has no intention of playing it anywhere other than the home of Real Madrid, which is creating a dispute within the situation.

What happens if the match is canceled?

The suspension of the Finalissima is a possibility that has been gaining momentum as both organizations have failed to reach an agreement on a venue. However, this would create a significant problem for both Argentina and Spain, as this is the final international window before the start of the 2026 World Cup.

Should the match be canceled, both national teams would need to arrange at least one friendly match to serve as preparation before heading to the tournament in North America. Amid this scenario, according to the European outlet Marca, Spain are reportedly considering a friendly game against Serbia on Spanish soil.

On the Argentine side, according to insider Gustavo Yarroch, there is a possibility that Lionel Scaloni’s squad could train for a week in Buenos Aires if the Finalissima is called off. Eventually, an attempt would be made to organize at least one friendly on Argentine soil to serve as a farewell match for the team before they depart for North America.

In general terms, and based on the positions of UEFA and CONMEBOL, the preferred option would be a home-and-away format. One match would be played in Spain at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, as proposed by UEFA, and the other in Argentina in Buenos Aires at the Estadio Monumental, as suggested by CONMEBOL.

However, that option appears to be the least viable because of scheduling and availability issues. There is only one FIFA international window remaining before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is when the Finalissima was originally expected to be played. Reaching an agreement on a neutral venue has also proven difficult due to ongoing disagreements.

When will the decision be known?

According to Gaston Edul, UEFA and CONMEBOL have postponed the decision regarding the venue for the Finalissima between Spain and Argentina until March 14.

Stadiums that could host the match

The Stadio Olimpico, Wembley Stadium, and Estadio da Luz are currently in contention. The Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid has been ruled out after UEFA initially proposed it without consulting CONMEBOL or the Argentine Football Association. The Monumental Stadium of River Plate is also out of consideration because the venue is already booked during those dates.

Spain alternative if the Finalissima does not happen

Spain are considering friendly matches in case the Finalissima does not take place. According to reports from Marca, the Royal Spanish Football Federation is working to arrange a friendly against Serbia on Spanish soil if no resolution for the Finalissima is reached.

Serbia emerged as the primary alternative because their schedule was disrupted by the cancellation of the Qatar Football Festival 2026 in Doha. Managed by Veljko Paunovic, the Serbian squad was originally set to face the Qatar national team on March 26 and the Saudi Arabia national team four days later.

Marca also notes that a match between Spain and Serbia could still take place even if the Finalissima proceeds, since Spain’s previously scheduled friendly against Egypt on March 30 has been canceled.

The search for a new location intensified after Qatar was ruled out as the original host. While the Spanish contingent proposed the Santiago Bernabeu, Argentina firmly rejected playing in Madrid or anywhere in Spain, maintaining that the match must be held on neutral ground to ensure competitive fairness.

In response, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has prepared a counteroffer to relocate the final to a neutral European city, with Lisbon (Estadio do Dragao), Rome (Stadio Olimpico), and London (Wembley) emerging as the primary candidates.

Meanwhile, AFA President Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia briefly suggested Buenos Aires as a potential host. However, the Estadio Monumental faces a major logistical hurdle: the legendary rock band AC/DC is scheduled to perform at the stadium on March 23, 27, and 31, effectively eliminating the venue as a possibility for the match date.

The options on the table

Following the intense back-and-forth to secure a venue for the 2026 Finalissima, only three viable options remain. The first involves Argentina finally accepting the proposal to play in Spain; however, this appears to have been largely discarded from the current plans.

The second, and currently most likely, option is for UEFA to accept the request from AFA and CONMEBOL to relocate the match to a different European city. Both organizations are reportedly working around the clock to secure a neutral stadium that can handle the logistics on such short notice.

The final possibility is that the 2026 Finalissima is either canceled or postponed to a later date. This outcome is the least desirable for both Argentina and Spain, as both squads are determined to play the match to capitalize on their final competitive window before the start of the 2026 World Cup.

According to RNE Deportes, “Tomorrow, a high-level meeting will take place where a definitive decision will be made with UEFA, CONMEBOL and the Qatari government regarding the Finalissima. The Estadio da Luz in Lisbon would be the host venue if the Qatari authorities accept a contract termination, which is currently the biggest hurdle in trying to find an alternative.

“The Stadio Olimpico in Rome would be the other alternative to Doha, although the Lisbon option is currently well ahead.” Given the circumstances and the security concerns surrounding the situation, it appears increasingly likely that, for the safety of both the athletes and the fans attending the event, the match could be moved to another location.

In addition, those venues represent strong options because the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon and the Stadio Olimpico in Rome will not have scheduled activity during the March FIFA international window, meaning both stadiums are available to host the Finalissima.

A sign that it could still be played in Qatar

Those alternatives could ultimately be ruled out depending on the agreement that is reached. However, one important factor to note is that soccer will return to Qatar this Thursday, March 12, in a move that signals apparent normality and could help stabilize plans for the Finalissima to be played in Doha on March 27, as originally scheduled.

Throughout this week, national competitions will resume, including the QSL. Three matches were rescheduled for Thursday, and since Saturday, teams have already returned to training while taking heightened security measures due to the tension that remains in the region.

The Finalissima venue still belongs to Doha despite the alternatives that have been mentioned in recent days. The coming days will be crucial in determining what ultimately happens with the event that has drawn major attention because it will feature two of the best national teams in the world, Spain and Argentina.

During the match’s official coverage, television cameras identified a supporter making a racist political gesture. UEFA‘s Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Body responded by issuing a financial penalty and a suspended partial stadium closure.

“To fine Real Madrid C.F. €15,000 and to order the partial closure of Real Madrid C.F. stadium (i.e. 500 adjacent seats of the lower south stand), during the next one (1) UEFA club competition match in which Real Madrid C.F. will play as host club, for the racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of its supporters. Said stadium closure is suspended during a probationary period of one (1) year, starting from the date of the present decision,” UEFA stated in an official release.

Because the closure is suspended, Real Madrid will be permitted to operate at full capacity when they host Manchester City on Wednesday, March 11, for the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16. The sanction will only be triggered if a similar incident of discriminatory behavior occurs within the one-year probationary window.

The incident sparked significant controversy, as it occurred just as the teams took the pitch and fans displayed a ‘No to Racism‘ banner in solidarity with Vinicius Jr. following his recent accusations against Benfica‘s Prestianni.

Real Madrid take immediate action against supporter

Real Madrid moved swiftly to distance the club from the individual’s actions. Security personnel at the Santiago Bernabeu identified and ejected the supporter shortly after the gesture was broadcast.

“Real Madrid C.F. communicates that it has urgently requested the club’s Disciplinary Commission to initiate an immediate expulsion procedure for the member caught by television cameras,” the club stated in an official statement. “This member was located by club security members moments after appearing in the broadcast and was immediately expelled from the stadium”.

The club concluded by reaffirming its stance against intolerance: “Real Madrid condemns these types of gestures and expressions that incite violence and hatred in sport and in society”.