#1 out of 13
sports1d ago
A Brief History of Italy's Ongoing World Cup Curse
- Italy lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties after a 1-0 lead disappeared in regulation.
- Italy did not qualify for the World Cup in 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026, marking three straight failures.
- The defeat follows prior World Cup qualification struggles in 2018 and 2022, despite Euro 2021 success.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina eliminated Italy in a decisive playoff final via a 4-1 shootout win.
- The outcome caps a long pattern described as an Italian World Cup curse by FOX Sports.
- Italy's 2026 World Cup bid ended after a win-and-get-in scenario failed in the playoff final.
- Italy's playoff path ended with a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland before the final loss to Bosnia.
- The 2026 setback marks Italy's latest World Cup absence since 2014.
- Analysts cite a broader decline in Italy's World Cup qualification performance across recent cycles.
- The story contrasts Italy's domestic success with ongoing World Cup qualification struggles.
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