Bosnia booked their spot in dramatic fashion, defeating Italy on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Zenica. The Bosnian national team also known as “Dragons” equalised late in the match before winning the shootout 4-1, sending four-time champions Italy out of the tournament for the third consecutive time.
Tens of thousands of people gathered to cheer the victorious Bosnian team in the capital, Sarajevo, where the victory party continued until morning.
“I love you more than anything,” Bosnia’s head coach, Sergej Barbarez, told the huge crowd.
Bosnia claimed its spot in dramatic fashion, defeating four-times world champion Italy on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Zenica, central Bosnia. The Bosnian team, nicknamed the Dragons, equalised late in the match before winning the shootout 4-1.
Turkey, meanwhile, ended a 24-year absence from the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Kosovo in Pristina, Kosovo.
Kerem Akturkoglu scored the decisive goal early in the second half, sealing Turkey’s qualification and causing joy across the country.
Kosovo had been hoping to qualify for its first-ever World Cup and showed strong determination throughout the match – but ultimately fell short.
This is the second time Bosnia and Herzegovina has qualified for the World Cup; they previously competed in 2014 but were eliminated in the group stage.
Turkey will be making their third appearance at the tournament. Their best result was in 2002, when they finished third, marking the most successful campaign in the country’s football history.
One other Balkan country will play at this year’s World Cup – Croatia, whose team has already qualified.