World Cup
Italy, Bosnia Battle for World Cup Return in High-Stakes Playoff
Four-time world champions Italy national football team will attempt to end a turbulent two-decade spell when they face Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team in a decisive World Cup playoff on Tuesday, with both nations seeking to return to football’s biggest stage after a 12-year absence.
The encounter in Zenica is laden with pressure and history. For Italy, it represents a chance to halt an alarming decline that has seen the former global powerhouse miss the last two editions of the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 2022—failures that have shaken the foundations of one of football’s most decorated nations. For Bosnia, it is an opportunity to relive the highs of their only appearance at Brazil 2014 and to reassert themselves on the global stage.
Italy’s Long Road Back
Italy’s last World Cup appearance came in 2014—the same tournament that marked Bosnia’s debut—and since then, the Azzurri have endured an uncharacteristic drought. Eliminations at the playoff stage for both Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 remain painful scars, particularly for a country that boasts four World Cup titles.
Now under the guidance of Gennaro Gattuso, Italy are once again navigating the treacherous playoff route after a difficult qualifying campaign that included heavy defeats to Norway. Although they steadied their campaign with a home victory over Northern Ireland in the semi-final, the trip to Zenica presents another stern examination.
A third consecutive failure to qualify would deepen the crisis around Italian football and extend a decline that stretches back to their last World Cup triumph in 2006.
Bosnia’s Quest for a Second Appearance
Bosnia and Herzegovina, meanwhile, are equally desperate to end their own run of near-misses. Since their historic debut in 2014, the Balkan nation has repeatedly stumbled at the final hurdle—losing in the playoffs for the 2010 World Cup and falling short in qualification for the last four European Championships.
Their current campaign has, however, rekindled belief. After finishing second in their qualifying group behind Austria, Bosnia edged Wales in a tense playoff semi-final decided by penalties, setting up Tuesday’s winner-takes-all clash.
Victory would secure only their second World Cup appearance and mark a significant milestone in their footballing journey.
A Rivalry Rooted in History
Beyond the immediate stakes, the fixture carries deep historical resonance. Bosnia’s first victory as an independent nation came against Italy in a friendly in Sarajevo in November 1996—just months after gaining FIFA recognition following independence in 1992.
That match, played at the Koševo Olympic Stadium before 40,000 fans, symbolised a nation’s re-emergence after the devastation of the Bosnian War. Italy’s willingness to play in Sarajevo—still recovering from a prolonged siege—was widely seen as a gesture of solidarity and a signal that normalcy was returning.
Bosnia’s 2-1 victory that day marked their arrival on the international stage, while the defeat led to the resignation of Italy’s then coach, Arrigo Sacchi.
Nearly three decades later, the two nations meet again under vastly different circumstances—but with similarly high emotional stakes.
Tension Builds in Zenica
Preparations for the playoff have been complicated by adverse weather conditions. Snowfall in Zenica over the weekend, followed by rain, has raised concerns about the playing surface at the Bilino Polje Stadium. Italy have adjusted their plans accordingly, opting to train at their Coverciano base before travelling.
Adding to the tension, the match will be played before a reduced crowd due to FIFA disciplinary sanctions imposed on Bosnia following incidents during their previous home fixture against Romania.
Yet even with limited capacity, a charged atmosphere is expected in Zenica, where passionate home support could play a decisive role.
Winner Takes All
With only one ticket to the World Cup at stake, the playoff offers no margin for error. For Italy, it is a chance to restore pride and reassert their status among football’s elite. For Bosnia, it is an opportunity to write a new chapter and return to the global spotlight after more than a decade in the wilderness.
When the final whistle blows on Tuesday night, one nation will celebrate a long-awaited return to the World Cup, while the other will be left to confront yet another painful chapter in its football history.
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A man died in Mexico City’s newly renovated Estadio Banorte on Saturday after falling from a box seat area shortly before the stadium’s reopening match, security officials said.
The accident occurred just as the venue, known as the Azteca Stadium, hosted a friendly between Mexico and Portugal. The match is intended to serve as a stress test for the facility after an around-the-clock construction push to meet Saturday’s deadline.
The stadium, scheduled to hold the opening ceremony on June 11, is to be the first to host matches in three different World Cups.
Authorities said the man was intoxicated. He attempted to jump from the second-level box seats to the first level by climbing along the exterior of the structure before falling to the ground floor, they said.
-Reuters
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Protesters transformed a major Mexico City highway into a makeshift football pitch on Saturday, playing impromptu matches to denounce World Cup preparation, which they said is overshadowing the capital’s pressing needs.
The event unfolded on the white-painted asphalt of a busy ring road, with demonstrators wearing Mexico jerseys alongside club colours of Pumas, Chivas and Italian side Juventus, while an organiser provided match commentary over a loudspeaker.
The protest was intended to denounce what organisers termed the “World Cup of Dispossession” and to draw attention to shortages of housing, water, transport and electricity.
Reuters has contacted the Mexico City government for comment.
The event took place just hours before Mexico was due to play Portugal in a World Cup warm-up match, and saw authorities deploy over 4,000 emergency services personnel to ensure safety.
Protesters played a friendly match, or “cascarita”, along the highway’s central lane, causing a massive build-up of traffic, which eased when protesters moved to the outside lane for a second match.
In a further political twist, the second match featured a football bearing the face of U.S. President Donald Trump, the significance of which was not immediately clear. Other signs of politics included Ukrainian flags and chants of “Free Palestine”.
“The union that this sport builds between people – if a ball appears, everyone tries to play, you forget about your differences and enjoy the game, the moment,” Roman, a protester who gave only his first name, told Reuters.
“Football is about community; it’s about more than money,” Roman said, adding that there are more pressing needs while the authorities are focused on the tournament. “We want attention. We want decent transport. We want water. We want electricity. We want to be able to get home. We want lights in the streets.”
The players, encircled by police, remained focused on winning the match while making their political points. When the ball rolled into the road, they paused and waited for its return while some passing drivers honked in support.
Banners unfurled during the protest included one reading “Global event, local eviction,” reflecting participants’ claims that World Cup-related development was fuelling displacement across the capital.
“It is contradictory, precisely because I like football a lot. I follow football, but that does not mean I support this. I do not think it is being handled in the best way in Mexico,” Julian, another protester wearing a “Lucha Libre” wrestling mask, told Reuters.
Mexico will co-host the World Cup alongside the United States and Canada. The tournament will take place from 11 June to 19 July, with matches scheduled for Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
-Reuters
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Fans returned to Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium for its long-awaited reopening on Saturday, embracing the pre-World Cup atmosphere despite tight security, protests across the capital and a fatal accident inside the venue.
Supporters streamed into the revamped venue for the first time in nearly two years for Mexico’s friendly against Portugal, hoping to get a taste of the kind of atmosphere which will envelop the country during soccer’s global showpiece.
Mexico will co-host the World Cup with the United States and Canada, and are set to open the tournament against South Africa at the stadium on June 11.
“We came from Puebla and we’re really excited to see the stadium and start feeling that World Cup atmosphere,” said Mexican fan Mariluly Cuesta, adding that the experience had been very well organised despite the heavier security presence.
Road closures and a large security operation made for a long walk to reach the gates, but many said the measures were expected for an event of this scale.
“We walked about a kilometre, but it felt very safe the whole way,” said Luis Camarena, a 40-year-old businessman who attended with his family. “We’re just happy to be here with the kids to watch the national team.”
While many had hoped to see Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, his absence did little to dampen the mood.
“We would have loved to see him, especially for the children, but we came for the spectacle,” Camarena added. “This way, everyone is fully behind Mexico.”
Not everyone shared the celebratory mood.
Protesters staged a demonstration on a major highway near the stadium, turning it into a makeshift football pitch to highlight what they said were shortages of housing, water, transport and electricity in the area.
Inside the stadium, the festive atmosphere was overshadowed by a fatal incident shortly before kickoff, when a man died after falling from a box seat area, according to local authorities.
There were also some teething problems for the reopening, with supporters pointing to confusion over entry points, largely linked to the stadium’s recent renovations, as well as the lack of parking, as areas for improvement.
“Staff weren’t always clear about which gate to use, so we had to double back,” said Karime Gonzalez, an 18-year-old student. “If we hadn’t come on time, that could have been a problem.
“People are helping each other find their way, it feels like a rehearsal for the World Cup,” added Gonzalez.
-Reuters
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