Gennaro Gattuso apologises after Italy fail to qualify for the FIFA World Cup following defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Gennaro Gattuso delivered an emotional apology after Italy missed out on a third consecutive FIFA World Cup. Italy were eliminated after a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica.
The four-time world champions had taken an early lead in the match but were forced to play with 10 men. Bosnia capitalized on the numerical advantage to equalize, and the contest eventually went to penalties, where Italy’s hopes were dashed.
Bosnia and Herzegovina are heading to their first World Cup since 2014 and it’s absolute scenes in Zenica 🔥🇧🇦
Italy 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐍𝐎𝐓 be at the World Cup this year.
↳ European Qualifiers™. Every Match. Live & Exclusive on Football’s New Home, Stan Sport.#StanSportAU #WCQ pic.twitter.com/RIieoygIJT
— Stan Sport Football (@StanSportFC) March 31, 2026
Gattuso admitted the result was difficult to accept, insisting his players deserved more from their performance. The visibly emotional coach said the defeat was painful for the entire nation and the wider Italian football community.
Italy were frustrated by a controversial moment in extra time when a foul by Tarik Muharemović resulted only in a yellow card. Despite the incident, Gattuso chose not to focus on refereeing decisions, preferring instead to highlight his team’s effort.
The former midfielder, who replaced Luciano Spalletti earlier in the qualification campaign, apologized to supporters for failing to secure a place at the tournament. He praised his players for their commitment and described their performance as heroic.
When asked about his future, Gattuso avoided speculation, stating that qualification had been the priority. He insisted the focus should remain on the team’s effort rather than discussions about his position.
Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina backed the coach and revealed he had asked Gattuso to remain in charge. Gravina also commended the players’ development in recent months despite the disappointment.
Gravina acknowledged the pressure surrounding Italian football following repeated failures but said evaluations would take place internally. For Italy, the absence from another World Cup represents a major setback, extending a difficult chapter in the nation’s proud football history.
