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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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER
As Mexico dreams of lifting the FIFA World Cup on home soil, thousands of fans are seeking help from an unlikely source — a figurine of baby Jesus dressed in the green, white and red colours of the national football team.
According to Reuters, worshippers have been flocking to Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral to pray before a figure of the infant Jesus wearing a Mexico football kit, hoping divine intervention might help “El Tri” achieve World Cup glory.
The display has become one of the most intriguing human-interest stories of the tournament, blending football passion with a uniquely Mexican religious tradition that stretches back generations.
In Mexico, figures of the baby Jesus are often dressed in costumes reflecting the hopes and needs of the faithful. Some are clothed as pilgrims to protect travellers, while others wear doctors’ attire as prayers for healing and good health. During this World Cup, however, football has taken centre stage.
The tradition of dressing the baby Jesus in Mexico’s national team colours dates back to the 1970 World Cup, the first tournament hosted by Mexico. For more than five decades, the custom was associated with the San Miguel Arcangel church in a working-class district of the capital.
This year, however, the tradition found a new and more prominent home after the parish priest at San Miguel Arcangel reportedly prohibited the practice, considering it disrespectful. The move sparked anger among supporters, with some fearing the disappearance of the beloved ritual might somehow affect Mexico’s fortunes on the pitch.
Responding to public sentiment, Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral stepped in.
“It’s the first time it’s been here in the cathedral … the people themselves asked for it,” Canon Manuel Corral told Reuters.
Far from attracting only Mexican supporters, the figure has become a gathering point for football pilgrims from across the globe. On Tuesday, visitors from Argentina, Colombia, Spain and other nations stopped to take photographs, offer prayers or simply admire the unusual symbol of World Cup faith.
Corral told Reuters that Colombians were among those visiting the cathedral ahead of their team’s match against Uzbekistan at the Azteca Stadium.
The figure will remain on display throughout the tournament regardless of Mexico’s results, with different versions of the national team’s kit expected to be used. On Tuesday, the baby Jesus wore a white jersey and green shorts similar to the outfit Mexico are expected to use against South Korea in Guadalajara.
For many visitors, the sight is both comforting and inspiring, reflecting the deep connection between religion and daily life in Mexico. Yet not everyone is convinced.
Eleazar Martinez, a Mexican fan who visited the cathedral, admitted he felt uneasy about the display.
“As a Catholic, it’s very strange for me to see the baby Jesus dressed like that. I don’t really agree with it,” he told Reuters.
Still, whether viewed as an expression of faith, folklore or football superstition, the Soccer Baby Jesus has become a symbol of the hopes of millions of fans as the World Cup unfolds across North America.
And in a country where football and faith often share the same emotional space, many supporters are convinced that every prayer counts.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER
Cristiano Ronaldo has another piece of football history within his grasp as Portugal open their World Cup campaign against DR Congo in Group K.
The 41-year-old captain could become the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments, extending a record that already places him among the greatest players in the competition’s history.
Portugal enter the match as clear favourites, boasting a squad packed with talent and experience, but coach Roberto Martinez has warned against underestimating a DR Congo side eager to make its mark.
The Congolese are returning to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, having last appeared as Zaire in 1974. That campaign ended without a goal or a point, and the Leopards will be desperate to erase those memories by scoring their first-ever World Cup goal.
With players drawn from several top European leagues and coach Sebastien Desabre encouraging a fearless approach, DR Congo will hope to spring a surprise against the Portuguese and launch their comeback to the global stage in memorable fashion.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER
Uzbekistan will complete a historic journey when they make their FIFA World Cup debut against Colombia in Group K.
The Central Asian nation is the last of the tournament’s four debutants to take the field and will be eager to announce themselves on football’s biggest stage with a positive result.
Standing in their way is an experienced Colombian side making its seventh World Cup appearance. Colombia have built a reputation for entertaining football and attacking intent, reflected in a remarkable statistic: none of their previous 22 World Cup matches has ended goalless.
The South Americans will be expected to control possession and dictate the tempo, but Uzbekistan’s disciplined defensive structure and enthusiasm could make them difficult opponents.
A positive result would represent a landmark achievement for Uzbekistan, while Colombia will be keen to avoid an upset and begin their quest for a deep tournament run with three points.
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