Italy miss out on 3rd straight World Cup

One of soccer’s historic powers has reached a once-unfathomable low. Four-time champions Italy failed to qualify for a third straight World Cup after getting beaten in a penalty shootout with 10 men by 66th-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European playoffs on Tuesday.

Moise Kean scored early on for Italy but then Azzurri centre back Alessandro Bastoni was sent off with a direct red card before the break and Bosnia substitute Haris Tabakovic equalised in the 79th to send the game into extra time at 1-1. The defeat added more misery for Italy’s once-proud national team after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in the qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups.

“It's too easy to say what's working and what's not working,” Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso said. “The fact is that Italy has failed to qualify for three World Cups. We're having a tough time achieving our goals, both with the national team and with our clubs.”

Bosnia won the shootout 4-1 and qualified for the first time since 2014 — its only previous appearance. In the shootout, Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their spot kicks and US-born Esmir Bajraktarevic 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.” In Tuesday's other European playoff finals, Sweden, Turkey and the Czech Republic each qualified. Sweden beat Poland 3-2; Turkey beat Kosovo 1-0; and the Czechs beat Denmark in a shootout.

Italy's latest ouster 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 go back all the way to 2010 and 2014, having failed to advance from its group on both occasions. Although the Azzurri did win the European Championship in 2021. Italy's last World Cup knockout match was when it won the title in 2006 by beating France in a penalty shootout.

Iraq edge out Bolivia, clinch World Cup spot

Monterrey (Mexico): Iraq overcame major logistical issues to become the 48th and final team to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup with a 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff on Tuesday, ending a wait of four decades to return to soccer's marquee global event. Ali Almahadi opened the scoring in the 18th minute, Moises Paniagua tied it for Bolivia in the 38th and Aymen Hussein scored the clincher in the 53rd minute for Iraq. The Iraq team will join Group I along with France, Norway and Senegal.

Portugal beat US 2-0 in World Cup warmup

Atlanta: Francisco Trincao scored in the 37th minute, Joao Felix added a goal in the 59th and Portugal beat the United States 2-0 in a friendly on Tuesday night to deal the Americans their eighth consecutive defeat against European opponents. US star Christian Pulisic was moved from a wing to the top of the attack, but failed to convert a pair of good-scoring chances.