The Poland national football team was eliminated from the race to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a dramatic 3-2 defeat against Sweden in the final. Italy was also knocked out of the World Cup 2026 qualification after a harsh loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout during the European playoff final. This marked an unexpected end for both teams, which were considered favorites in their respective matches. The Poles took the lead, but the Swedes managed to turn the game around. The Italians, however, failed to convert their chances in the penalty shootout, leading to their elimination.
