Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy face off in a high-stakes World Cup playoff final on Tuesday at Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica. Both nations have endured 12 years without reaching football’s biggest stage, with their last World Cup appearance dating back to 2014. One win will decide who secures a spot in the 2026 tournament.
Italy have been under immense pressure in recent years. Despite being four-time world champions and winning the delayed Euros in 2021, La Nazionale have struggled to qualify for the World Cup. Their current campaign has been marked by inconsistency—two heavy defeats to Norway early in Group I left them fighting for survival—but recent form has stabilized under Gennaro Gattuso.
In Thursday’s semi-final, Italy overcame Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo, thanks to second-half strikes from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean. The team has shown attacking prowess, averaging over two goals per game since Gattuso replaced Luciano Spalletti last September, though defensive frailties remain a concern. For Gattuso, a World Cup berth would be both redemption and relief, while failure would carry a heavy weight of expectation.
Bosnia-Herzegovina, by contrast, have the advantage of momentum and a partisan home crowd. After a tense playoff semi-final against Wales, Edin Dzeko’s late equalizer sent the match to penalties, where the Dragons held their nerve to win. The team is now just one win away from a return to the World Cup. Despite being 58 places below Italy in the latest FIFA rankings, Bosnia will hope the freezing conditions and intimate stadium atmosphere in Zenica work in their favor.
Historically, the nations have met six times, with Bosnia claiming only a single victory—a 2-1 friendly win in 1996. This matchup represents a crucial opportunity for both sides to end a long absence from the sport’s grandest stage.
Recent Form
Bosnia-Herzegovina (World Cup Qualifying – Europe): W L D W D WBosnia-Herzegovina (All Competitions): L D W W D W
Italy (World Cup Qualifying – Europe): W W W W L W
Team News
Italy are likely to stick with the XI that defeated Northern Ireland, though Mateo Retegui’s lack of sharpness could see 20-year-old Inter striker Pio Esposito start. Esposito has scored three goals in his last five World Cup qualifiers and has been in strong form for Inter. Absentees include Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa, but Alessandro Bastoni, Gianluca Mancini, and Riccardo Calafiori have returned from minor injuries. Gianluca Scamacca remains sidelined, leaving three forwards—Retegui, Kean, and Esposito—to compete for two spots.Bosnia-Herzegovina’s squad remains largely unchanged, with experienced veteran Edin Dzeko leading the attack alongside Ermedin Demirovic. Dzeko, now 40, is Bosnia’s all-time top scorer with 73 goals, including six in this qualifying campaign. Teenage sensation Kerim Alajbegovic could earn a spot, while defensive stalwarts Tarik Muharmovic and Sead Kolasinac anchor the backline. Sampdoria’s Dennis Hadzikadunic, along with Sturm Graz trio Emir Karic, Arjan Malic, and Jusuf Gazibegovic, are absent.
Bosnia-Herzegovina possible lineup: Vasilj; Dedic, Muharemovic, Katic, Kolasinac; Memic, Tahirovic, Sunjic, Alajbegovic; Demirovic, Dzeko
Italy possible lineup: Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Kean, Esposito
Expert Prediction
Bosnia 1-2 Italy
