Turkey, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the Czech Republic advanced to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada on Tuesday night following European play-off final wins.
Italy, who have won the World Cup four times since its inception in 1930, collapsed in the penalty shoot-out with Bosnia and Herzegovina after the match ended 1-1 in Zenica.
The Italians, seeking a berth at the World Cup for the first time since 2014, took the lead through Moise Kean after 15 minutes.
But they were reduced to 10 men towards the end of the first-half when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for hacking down Amar Memic.
Haris Tabakovic brought the sides level after 79 minutes but the hosts could not exploit their numerical advantage as doughty Italian defending held them at bay.
But despite the presence of the Manchester City goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma, the local heroes kept their nerve and prevailed 4-1 in the shoot-out. They will play in Group B against co-hosts Canada as well as Switzerland and Qatar.
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In the night's other penalty shoot-out, the Czech Republic advanced at the expense of Denmark after their match ended 2-2.
The Lyon midfielder Pavel Sulc scored after three minutes at the Epet Arena in Prague. But Joachim Andersen equalised midway through the second-half for the visitors.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Ladislav Krejci hit the second for the Czech Republic in the first-half of extra-time. But Kasper Hoegh responded for the Danes midway through the second-half.
Denmark cracked in the shoot-out. Rasmus Hoejlund, Anders Dreyer and Mathias Jensen fluffed their kicks and the Czechs advanced 3-1 on penalties to the World Cup for the first time since 2006 in Germany.
They will take on co-hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in Group A.
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Two of the night's ties were wrapped up in the regulation 90 minutes.
Turkey ended Kosovo's dream of a first trip to the World Cup with a 1-0 victory at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina.
Kerem Aktürkoğlu scored eight minutes into the second-half to take Turkey to the World Cup for the first time since 2002 when they finished third. They will join Group D with the United States, Paraguay and Australia.
In Solna, near Stockholm, Poland twice came from behind against Sweden but the Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres rammed in Sweden's third goal two minutes from time to send Graham Potter's men to the World Cup where they will feature in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
