Wales suffered World Cup play-off heartbreak as Bosnia and Herzegovina won 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Cardiff.
It was a cruel repeat of Wales' exit in the Euro 2024 play-offs as spot-kicks again proved their undoing.
Wales were four minutes from booking a home play-off final against Italy - 2-0 winners over Northern Ireland - on Tuesday after Daniel James put them ahead with a stunning strike soon after half-time.
But Edin Dzeko, who celebrated his 40th birthday earlier this month, extended his record Bosnia goals tally to 73 by climbing above the home defence and nodding home Kerim Alajbegovic's corner.
Neither side could force a winner in 30 added minutes and Wales drew first blood in the shootout as Karl Darlow saved Ermedin Demirovic's kick.
But Brennan Johnson blazed over and Neco Williams saw Nikola Vasilj push away his penalty, allowing Alajbegovic to plunge the dagger into Welsh hearts.
