‘The World Cup curse’: Outcry as Italy miss out for third time in a row

Italy has failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive tournament after losing a playoff match to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Italy's sport minister has called for the football federation boss to resign following the elimination, signaling political pressure over the national team's persistent failure to reach the sport's marquee event. Missing three World Cups in a row marks an unprecedented drought for a country that won the tournament in 2006 and has historically been among football's elite programs. The loss intensifies scrutiny on the federation's leadership and raises questions about the structural problems afflicting Italian football at the national level. Italy will now focus on rebuilding ahead of future competitions while facing domestic criticism over how the team has deteriorated since its last World Cup appearance.