The European qualifying drama for the 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded on Tuesday with heartbreak for footballing giants Italy and Denmark, while Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Czech Republic punched their tickets to the expanded tournament. Turkey and Sweden had already secured their places earlier in the evening, completing the European contingent for now. The expanded format, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will feature 48 teams for the first time.
The playoff battles, played across Europe, delivered a series of tense encounters that ultimately went down to penalty shootouts for both Italy and Denmark. Bosnia-Herzegovina’s victory over Italy marks a significant moment for the nation, while the Czech Republic’s win over Denmark adds another compelling narrative to the upcoming World Cup.
Italy’s Third Consecutive World Cup Miss
The four-time World Cup champions, Italy, suffered yet another devastating blow to their international ambitions, losing 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina after a 1-1 draw. This marks the third consecutive World Cup qualification cycle that Italy has failed to reach the tournament, continuing a period of significant underperformance for the Azzurri. The match, played in Bosnia-Herzegovina, was further complicated by an early red card for Italy’s Alessandro Bastoni in the 41st minute, forcing them to play a man down for much of the contest.
Moise Kean opened the scoring for Italy in the 15th minute, capitalizing on a costly error from St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. Yet, Bosnia-Herzegovina relentlessly pushed for an equalizer, finally finding the back of the net through Hertha BSC’s Haris Tabakovic in the 79th minute. The penalty shootout ultimately proved to be Italy’s undoing, with Esmir Bajraktarevic converting the decisive spot-kick to send Bosnia-Herzegovina through.
The defeat is particularly stinging for Italy, especially considering the presence of tennis superstar Novak Djokovic in the stands in Zenica. Bosnia-Herzegovina will compete in Group B at the World Cup, facing Switzerland, Qatar, and co-host Canada.
Denmark Stunned by Czech Republic
Denmark, who had appeared to be on the cusp of qualification, were also eliminated in a penalty shootout, falling 3-1 to the Czech Republic after a 2-2 draw that went to extra time. Pavel Sulc (3rd minute) and Ladislav Krejci (100th minute) put the Czech Republic ahead on two occasions, but Denmark fought back with goals from Joachim Andersen (73rd minute) and Kasper Högh (111th minute) to force the shootout. However, the Danes faltered from the spot, with three of their four penalty takers missing their attempts, while the Czech Republic converted three of their own.
Denmark’s failure to qualify is a significant setback after reaching the semi-finals of the European Championship in 2021. The team had narrowly missed out on direct qualification in the autumn and ultimately couldn’t overcome the Czech Republic in this crucial playoff.
The Czech Republic will face a manageable Group A at the World Cup, alongside hosts Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea.
Turkey and Sweden Also Advance
Earlier in the evening, Turkey secured their spot in the World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Kosovo, while Sweden defeated Poland 3-2 in a thrilling encounter. For Turkey, it’s only their third appearance at the World Cup, following their participation in 1954 and 2002. Kerem Aktürkoglu scored the decisive goal for Turkey in the 53rd minute. Despite a spirited performance, Franco Foda’s Kosovo side, who recently achieved a stunning 4-3 win over Slovakia, were unable to replicate that success.
Sweden’s victory over Poland was a particularly dramatic affair, with Anthony Elanga (20th minute), Gustaf Lagerbielke (44th minute), and Viktor Gyökeres (88th minute) scoring for the Swedes. Nicola Zalewski (33rd minute) and Karol Swiderski (55th minute) found the net for Poland, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their elimination. This result potentially marks the end of Robert Lewandowski’s international career without a World Cup appearance.
Sweden will compete in Group F, facing the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia.
What’s Next?
With these playoff results finalized, the focus now shifts to the remaining two European qualifiers. Jamaica will face the Democratic Republic of Congo at 23:00, and Iraq will take on Bolivia early Wednesday morning at 05:00 (times are not specified for time zone). These matches will determine the final two European teams to join the 48-team field for the 2026 World Cup. The tournament is set to kick off on June 11th in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Germany, alongside Spain, Belgium, England, France, Portugal, Croatia, Norway, Scotland, Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, had already secured their places through direct qualification.
