Iraq became the last team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (X Photo) In a night full of drama across continents, Iraq sealed the final place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup while Italy suffered another heartbreaking failure in qualifying.Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify when they defeated Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental play-off in Mexico to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1986.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein capped a memorable victory for a team that overcame huge challenges off the pitch. Preparations were severely disrupted due to the conflict in the Middle East, forcing players to make a grueling three-day journey just to get to the venue.Despite being outnumbered, Iraq started strongly, with Al-Hamadi heading home in the ninth minute. Bolivia equalized before half-time, but captain Hussein restored the lead early in the second half with an equalizing finish. The Iraqi defense then held firm through a tense finale to seal qualification.The result marked a major achievement for head coach Graham Arnold, who had previously expressed concerns about the squad’s build-up being disrupted. Iraq will now appear in Group I alongside France, Senegal and Norway.
Four-time champions Italy lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final. (Image credit: Italian Football)
The Italian nightmare continuesWhile Iraq celebrated, Italy suffered another crushing blow. The four-time champions lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final, losing 4-1 on penalties after a thrilling draw.Italy took an early lead through Moise Kean, but the game turned after defender Alessandro Bastoni was sent off before half-time. Bosnia capitalized late on, Haris Tabakovic forcing extra time before holding their nerve in the shootout.The decisive moment came when Esmir Bajraktarevic converted the winning penalty to spark wild celebrations.Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso admitted the pain of the defeat. “It’s hard to digest. I’m proud of the boys but this is a huge blow,” he said.The result means Italy will miss out on a third World Cup in a row – an unprecedented low for one of football’s most decorated nations. Meanwhile, Bosnia is returning to the global scene for the first time since 2014.
