Bosnia celebrates second-ever World Cup qualification

Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the World Cup for only the second time in its history after defeating four-time champion Italy in a penalty shootout on April 3. The upset victory in a qualifying match sent tens of thousands of Bosnian fans into the streets for celebrations that extended into the early morning hours. Bosnia's first World Cup appearance came in 1994, making this qualification a landmark moment for the young nation's football program. The win over Italy—a perennial World Cup contender and four-time champion—underscores the magnitude of the achievement and marks a significant upset in the qualification process.