Italy Misses 2026 World Cup, Newspapers Call for Change

In the play‑off final, Italy took the lead through Moises Kean but a red card for Alessandro Bastoni and Haris Tankovic’s equaliser sent the tie to extra‑time and penalties. Bosnia converted all spot‑kicks, while Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed for Italy, leaving the Azzurri to sit out the expanded 48‑team tournament.

The loss sparked headlines such as “Everyone out!” in Tuttosport and “Everyone at home” in Gazzetta dello Sport, with columnists demanding sweeping changes and a reset. Manager Gennaro Gattuso said he would not discuss his future, praising the squad’s heart, while other papers called the defeat a humiliation and a sign of systemic mediocrity.