The Italian sporting world experienced a considerable disappointment following the Azzurri’s defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 World Cup qualifying play-off final, held in Bilino Polje. The squad, captained by Sergej Barbarez, secured victory through a penalty shootout with a score of 4-1. This outcome resulted in Italy’s exclusion from the tournament for a third consecutive time.
This setback deeply impacted the reputation and legacy of the four-time world champions. Furthermore, substantial financial losses have arisen from this failure. Gazzetta dello Sport’s estimates indicate that the Italian Football Federation has incurred at least 100 million euros due to these repeated eliminations.
Approximately 45 million euros of these losses are directly connected to the disqualification from the 2026 World Cup. The financial burden includes 9 million euros representing the FIFA minimum participation bonus and an additional 16 million euros. The Italian nation suffered a painful blow, highlighting the challenges faced by the national team.
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Italian businesses incurred substantial financial setbacks stemming from their loss to Bosnia.