Photo: reuters.com Italy striker Francesco Pio Esposito, who failed to convert a penalty kick, after defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina
The six final spots were played in the knockout matches, which determined all participants in the World Championship (see table). Sixteen teams from Europe competed for four of the spots, and six teams from other continents competed for the remaining two.
How the six national teams “jumped into the last carriage of the train” and who of them needed from 20 to 52 years to do it – in the Logos Press review.
“Vikings” – out of competition
Last June, the Italian national team defeated Norway with a score of 0:3. Luciano Spalletti was replaced by former outstanding footballer Gennaro Gattuso, who aimed to transform the team’s game and mobilize it for the decisive autumn qualifying tournament.
The first match saw a 2-0 victory over Moldova. Squadra Azzurra then defeated Estonia (5-0, 3-1) and Israel (5-4, 3-0). The bright streak lasted until November 13, when the penultimate round match in Group I took place in Chisinau. Then, despite the quality play of the opponents in defense, in the end of the match the Italians scored a goal. Italians scored two unanswered goals into the Moldovan national team’s gates.
The home match with the Norwegians completed the qualifying tournament. But the “Vikings” played it so brilliantly (at that time they scored 33 goals in seven matches, conceding only four – note. Author’s note) that the four-time world champions needed to win by nine (!) goals. The hosts opened the scoring, but the Norwegians left no doubt about their superiority. Four goals flew into Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal, two of which were scored by the top scorer of the qualification, Erling Holand… The same one who scored a penta-trick. who scored a penta-trick in the match against Moldova (11:1) and became the record holder for the number of goals against the “tricolor”. At the same time, he became the first footballer in 48 years to score five goals in one match of the European qualifying cycle.
Optimistic expectations
Second place in the group allowed the Italian national team to qualify for the knockout tournament, where in the 1/2 finals the lot fell to Northern Ireland – not the most formidable opponent. “Squadra Azzurra” confidently passed the Ulster national team, winning with a score of 2:0.
In the final was to play with Bosnia and Herzegovina, who defeated Wales in a penalty shootout (2:1). The Italians were optimistic before the decisive match, and bookmakers believed in their victory. The probability of an Italian victory in regulation time was estimated at more than 60%, while Bosnia had only 13%. The probability of a draw (excluding extra time and penalty shootout) was estimated at 23%.
The Bosnians were chosen by lot to host the match at the Bilino Polje stadium in Zenica. This gave the hosts a slight advantage, but the Italians managed to open the scoring on 15 minutes through Moise Keane and Nicolo Barella, who assisted him.
However, the situation became much more complicated after defender Alessandro Bastoni was sent off at the end of the first half.
In the second half, the Italians tried to maintain a minimal advantage. They almost succeeded, until 13 minutes before the end of the match 40-year-old veteran of the Bosnian national team Edin Dzeko struck at the opponents’ goal. Donnarumma deflected the shot, but Haris Tabakovic successfully played on the rebound and equalized the score. That was the end of regulation time.
The extra half-hour also did not reveal the winner, and the referee Clement Turpen pointed the teams to the 11-meter mark. Francesco Pio Esposito’s first Italian shot failed to hit the target, but the Bosnians were effective. Brian Cristante hit the crossbar in the third, and the Balkans had four out of five shots to qualify for the Mundial.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has only played at the World Cup once – in 2014 in Brazil. Then the national team played in the same group with Argentina, Iran and Nigeria, but failed to make the playoffs. At the upcoming tournament, the Bosnians will compete with Switzerland, Canada and Qatar for the exit from the group. Even third place in the group will ensure playoffs, but on condition that the national team will be among the top eight of the 12 contenders.
“Lost Generation”
The Italian national team has not qualified for the World Cup since 2014. Back then, Squadra Azzurra and England failed to make it out of the group, missing out on Costa Rica and Uruguay. Four years earlier in South Africa, players from the Apennines also failed to overcome the group stage.
The last Italian triumph at the Mundial this year is 20 years old. At the Olympic Stadium in Berlin (Germany) in 2006, the Italian national team defeated France in a penalty shootout, becoming at that time the second in history with four trophies. Since 2014, it has been accompanied by the German national team.
Italian media dubbed another failure of the national team a “national disaster” and recalled the “lost generation” of players who have never played in a major soccer tournament in their careers. The next opportunity to break the black streak will fall only in 2030, when in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Mundial will be held for the first time on three continents – in Africa, Europe and South America.
“Such a blow is hard to take
Gennaro Gattuso issued an apology after the match against the Bosnians. “I personally apologize to all the fans for Italy’s failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup. Despite this, our players gave 100% on the pitch. I am proud of my guys, such a blow is hard to endure,” Football Italia quoted the coach as saying.
His future at the head of the coaching staff remains unknown. Although Gattuso himself said that it is inappropriate to talk about it, the president of the Italian Football Federation Gabriele Gravina publicly asked the specialist to keep his post. Gattuso, known for his extravagant statements, in particular, promises to leave Italy in case of failure to qualify for the Mundial, will announce his decision in the near future.
Turkish fans have been waiting for this for 24 years
The Turkish national team defeated Romania and Kosovo by identical 1-0 scores to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2002. It triumphed in Japan and South Korea, finishing third. This achievement is a historic one for her.
The upcoming Mundial will be the third in the history of the Turkish national team, although three times (in 1934, 1950, 1958) it refused to participate in the tournament. Turkey’s opponents in the group round will be the USA, Paraguay and Australia.
Last place is not a verdict
Sweden defeated Ukraine (3:1) and Poland (3:2) to become the first World Cup team in history to finish in last place in the qualifying tournament. The Scandinavians earned the right to compete for the coveted ticket thanks to their victory in the group stage of the Nations League Division C.
It will be the 13th time they will play at a major soccer tournament. At the World Cup, held in Sweden in 1958, the Scandinavians were silver medalists. They have won bronze medals three times – in 1950 in Brazil and in 1994 in the United States.
At the 2026 World Cup Sweden is in the same group as the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia and has a good chance of making the playoffs.
Two penalty kicks saved the game
The Czech Republic has won two consecutive qualifying matches on penalties – over Ireland and Denmark (both 3-2). After the collapse of Czechoslovakia, the national team has played only once at the World Cup – in 2006. They failed to make it out of the group in Germany.
The Czech national soccer team will compete with the strongest opponents for the first time in 20 years. It will compete with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea to qualify for the playoffs.
For more than half a century
The Democratic Republic of Congo became the 47th World Cup participant by defeating Jamaica 1-0. The only goal was scored in extra time.
The Congolese will take part in the championship for the first time since 1974, the second time in their history. Their participation in the Mundial 52 years ago was overshadowed by an anti-record that still stands. At the time, Zaire’s national team crushingly lost 0:9 to Yugoslavia. No team in the history of the World Cup had ever lost by a larger score. In 1982, El Salvador repeated the “achievement”, losing to Hungary with a score of 1:10.
Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan were the opponents of the DR Congo national team.
Return after 40 years
The Iraqi national team qualified for the World Cup after defeating Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental clash, earning the last qualifying spot. Iraq will be represented at the Mundial for the second time in its history. It comes after a 40-year hiatus. At the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the Iraqis were drawn in the same group as hosts Belgium and Paraguay, losing all three matches.
On the occasion of the triumph, the Iraqi authorities declared April 1 and 2 days off – the country’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani signed a corresponding order. Fans took to the streets en masse to celebrate the success of the national team.
Record prize money
Earlier Logos Press reported that the upcoming Mundial will have a record prize money – $655 million.The vast majority of the tournament budget ($727 million) will be allocated for its provision. The winning team will receive $50 million in prize money, the world vice-champions – $33 million, and the bronze medalists – $29 million.
It was also announced that the clubs whose players will go to the World Cup will receive compensation from the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) totaling over $350 million. compensation totaling more than $350 million. This amount also became a record for the entire history of the tournament.
This year’s World Cup will be held in three countries for the first time. The tournament matches will be held in 16 cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The deciding match will be hosted by MetLife Stadium in New York (USA). Argentina are the current winners of the trophy.
| The participating teams in the 12 groups at the
FIFA World Cup 2026 |
||
| Group A | Group B | Group C |
| Czech Republic | Switzerland | Brazil |
| Mexico | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Scotland |
| SOUTH AFRICA | Canada | Morocco |
| South Korea | Qatar | Haiti |
| Group D | Group E | Group F |
| Turkey | Germany | Netherlands |
| USA | Ecuador | Sweden |
| Paraguay | Côte d’Ivoire | Japan |
| Australia | Curaçao | Tunisia |
| Group G | Group H | Group I |
| Belgium | Spain | France |
| Egypt | Uruguay | Norway |
| Iran | Cape Verde | Senegal |
| New Zealand | Saudi Arabia | Iraq |
| Group J | Group K | Group L |
| Argentina | Portugal | England |
| Austria | Colombia | Croatia |
| Algeria | DR Congo | Ghana |
| Jordan | Uzbekistan | Panama |
