Italy has failed to qualify for its third straight World Cup.
Bosnia and Herzegovina was victorious against the Italians following a penalty kick shootout to claim one of the final six spots in the 2026 World Cup during Tuesday’s playoffs.
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Moise Kean put the Italians ahead after 15 minutes, but they put themselves at a disadvantage in the 41st minute when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off. Bosnia kept the pressure on Gianluigi Donnarumma with 30 shot attempts and 11 shots on goal as the visitors played the remainder of the game with 10 men.
In the 79th minute, Haris Tabaković equalized for Bosnia.
Extra time could not decide a winner and penalties were needed.
2026 World Cup qualified teams, full schedule, groups
During the penalty shootout, Italy missed two attempts while the hosts scored four times to set off the celebrations in Zenica.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will be a part of Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
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Türkiye joins USMNT’s Group D
Türkiye will be returning to the World Cup following a 1-0 victory on the road over Kosovo.
Kerem Aktürkoğlu scored in the 53rd minute and that was all Türkiye needed to secure a spot in the World Cup for the first time in 24 years and only the second time since 1954.
With the win, Türkiye will join the United States in Group D along with Paraguay and Australia.
Viktor Gyökeres was the hero for Sweden as his 88th-minute winner sank Robert Lewandowski’s and Poland’s hopes during a 3-2 victory.
Sweden will be back at the World Cup for the first time since a run to the quarterfinals in 2018. They will be in Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
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Czechia also qualified for the first time since 2006 after beating Denmark on penalties.
Pavel Šulc’s 3rd-minute goal was answered in the 72nd minute by Denmark’s Joachim Andersen. In extra time, the teams exchanged goals and penalties were needed to determine a winner.
Denmark collapsed in PKs, missing three attempts, while the Czechs made three of their four to win and qualify.
The Czechs will join Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.
DR Congo needed extra time to take down Jamaica and become Africa’s 10th country to qualify for the World Cup. Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe was the hero in the 100th minute after Jamaica’s collapsing defense allowed him to tap-in a corner kick for the eventual game-winner. The Congolese join Group K alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
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In Tuesday’s final playoff, Iraq was able to hold off Bolivia for a 2-1 win at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico. Ayman Hussein’s goal in the 55th minute was the difference as Iraq ends a 40-year World Cup drought. Iraq’s reward? A spot in a difficult Group I with France, Norway and Senegal all favorites to advance.
With Iraq in, the 48-team field is now complete. Groups are set, storylines are forming and the road to the World Cup officially moves from qualification chaos to tournament anticipation.
2026 World Cup: Complete groups
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, Czechia
Group B: Canada,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
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Here’s how the playoffs unfolded in real-time:
Live coverage is over52 updates
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 10:03 PM PDT
Iraq has claimed the final spot at the 2026 World Cup, closing the book on a dramatic playoff window that delivered one last twist on Tuesday.
While Bosnia’s stunning elimination of Italy grabbed the early headlines, the Iraqis made sure the final word belonged to them, grinding out the result they needed to punch their ticket to North America. It’s a historic moment for a program that has battled through a difficult qualifying path and now returns to the sport’s biggest stage with momentum and belief.
Unfortunately, they’ll be the underdogs in this tournament’s version of the “Group of Death” alongside France, Norway and Senegal
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 9:41 PM PDT
Iraq is 15 minutes away from booking the final spot in the 2026 World Cup. Bolivia is getting desperate, as it should, but Iraq hasn’t yielded in its attack.
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 9:19 PM PDT
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 8:54 PM PDT
It’s all tied up as the teams head to the locker room to regroup. After going down early, Bolivia responded well with several opportunities to score culminating in Paniagua’s golazo in the 38th minute. The winner tonight will join Group I alongside France, Norway and Senegal.
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 8:44 PM PDT
Ramiro Vaca sends it in and 18-year-old Moisés Paniagua capitalizes to level the score vs. Iraq.
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 8:20 PM PDT
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 8:12 PM PDT
After an incredible save from Bolivia’s Guillermo Viscarra, the ensuing corner kick results in Ali Hamadi blasting a header into the net to give Iraq a 1-0 lead.
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 8:08 PM PDT
Iraq: Ahmed Basil Fadhil; Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Akam Hashem, Merchas Doski; Ibrahim Bayesh, Youssef Amyn, Aimar Sher, Amir Al-Ammari; Ali Al Hamadi, Ayman Hussein
Bolivia: Guillermo Viscarra; Diego Medina, Luís Haquín, Efraín Morales, Roberto Fernández; Robson Matheus, Ramiro Vaca, Gabriel Villamíl; Miguel Terceros, Moisés Paniagua, Juan Godoy
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 8:00 PM PDT
Iraq and Bolivia have taken the field for Tuesday night’s inter-continental playoff final in Monterrey, Mexico with one final World Cup spot on the line.
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 4:49 PM PDT
The Reggae Boyz have been eliminated from qualifying for the 2026 World Cup as DR Congo books its ticket with a 1-0 win over the Reggae Boyz after 120+ minutes. Axel Tuanzebe’s 100th minute tap-in was the difference and now DR Congo can set its sights on its Group K opponents: Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
DR Congo’s defender #04 Axel Tuanzebe (unseen) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in extra time during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers final playoff football match between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Jamaica at the Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Jalisco state, Mexico, on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Ulises Ruiz / AFP via Getty Images)
(ULISES RUIZ via Getty Images)
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 4:45 PM PDT
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 4:16 PM PDT
It took 100 minutes, but DR Congo finds the net with a tap-in from Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe off the corner kick. How will Jamaica respond?
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 4:00 PM PDT
Scoreless after 90+ minutes, the sides will now play 30 extra minutes in the Mexican heat in Guadalajara for a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 3:51 PM PDT
DR Congo’s midfielder #08 Samuel Moutoussamy reacts after his team had a goal disallowed during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers final playoff football match between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Jamaica at the Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Jalisco state, Mexico, on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Ulises Ruiz / AFP via Getty Images)
(ULISES RUIZ via Getty Images)
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 3:36 PM PDT
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 3:00 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Even first 45 minutes. Both teams recorded a single shot on goal, while Congo has 4 shot attempts to 3 for Jamaica.
The winner of this match will be a part of Group K with Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 2:58 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 2:30 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Denmark missed three attempts, while Tomás Chory, Tomás Soucek and Michal Sadílek took advantage of their PKs to help send Czechia to the World Cup for the first time since 2006.
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 2:23 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Whoever comes out on top will be a part of Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
ITA: Moise Kean – 15′
BiH: Haris Tabaković – 79′
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 2:17 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
The winner of this one will join Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.
CZE: Pavel Sulc – 3′, Ladislav Krejcí – 100′
DEN: Joachim Andersen – 72’, Kasper Høgh – 111′