Wales lost on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, ending their 2026 World Cup dreams.
Kerim Alaibegovic’s spot-kick set up Bosnia’s World Cup play-off final at home to Italy on Tuesday, but Brennan Johnson and Neco Williams both missed penalties.
Wales suffered a crushing defeat in the semi-finals of the play-offs, missing out on qualification for the World Cup for the second consecutive tournament.
Dan James put Wales ahead early in the second half with a fine volley before Edin Dzeko’s second-half header forced extra time.
Craig Bellamy’s side return to Cardiff on Tuesday to face Northern Ireland, who lost to Italy in the play-off semi-final, in a friendly.
Wales will not play in the 2026 World Cup
Wales will feel they should host Italy on Tuesday with a World Cup place on the line, with four minutes remaining to seal a place in the play-off final against the four-time champions.
Harry Wilson appeared to break the deadlock at the Cardiff City Stadium by hitting the post and saving a free-kick with Wales’ only shot on target of the first half against a physical Bosnian side.
Wales’ Harry Wilson expresses disappointment
However, six minutes into the second half, it was James who made the breakthrough with a stunning volley from about 25 yards.
The Leeds winger latched on to the loose ball and fired with a powerful shot that caught Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasili and put Wales ahead.
An end-to-end encounter then ensued as James hit a deflected shot onto the bar. Wales goalkeeper Karl Darlow then made a great stop, managing to parry Elmedin Demirovic’s header at his near post.
However, Darlow was unable to stop Dzeko’s header and in the 86th minute the 40-year-old Bosnian captain went high for a corner kick to equalize and score his 73rd goal for his national team.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Edin Dzeko scores the equalizing goal.
The former Manchester City striker collided with Bellamy on the touchline in extra-time, resulting in Dzeko being booked.
Neither team was able to find a winner in extra time, with Wilson missing a great chance and the shootout went to penalties, with Bosnia winning in a brutal repeat of Wales’ Euro 2024 play-off exit.
James: Losing is ‘really tough’
Wales’ Daniel James celebrates after scoring his first goal
Dan James of Wales said of the defeat:
“It was a really tough game. I think we played unbelievable tonight. We were unlucky for them to score late, but after overtime I thought we were the only ones to go on to win.”
“It’s a credit to ourselves and how far we’ve come, but it wasn’t supposed to happen tonight.
“I think we were unlucky not to get the second goal. We had a chance and it hit the bar but it didn’t go in. We gave them a little bit of a chance and some confidence and they were able to score and equalize. That’s what they did.”
“Credit to us that we went to extra time and dominated the game. We created a lot of chances but it went to penalties and that’s the way it is.”
“This is going to hurt.”
Williams saw the spot-kick saved.
Sky Sports News Geraint Hughes at Cardiff City Stadium:
“Lo and behold, the same thing has happened again in Wales.
“Exactly two years ago to that day, they missed out on Euro 2024 after losing on penalties to Poland. The curse of penalties struck twice.
“What a contrast at full-time. The Bosnian players are celebrating widely in one corner of the stadium, while all the Wales players and backroom staff are huddled around Craig Bellamy in the middle. He’s walking around and talking to them, clearly doing so with passion.”
“This is going to hurt.”
