Joy and heartbreak as final World Cup spots are decided, in photos

April 01, 2026 Cristiano Ronaldo
Joy and heartbreak as final World Cup spots are decided, in photos

The final places at the World Cup were decided in dramatic fashion as qualifying campaigns came to an end across Europe and in Mexico. Players and fans reacted with joy and disappointment after decisive matches, including a surprise penalty shootout defeat for Italy.

Associated Press Italy players react during a penalty shootout during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut) Bosnia's Nikola Katic, right, and Bosnia's Dzenis Burnic celebrate after winning a penalty shootout during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut) Iraq's players celebrate after the World Cup playoff final soccer match between Iraq and Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Turkey's players celebrate after winning the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Kosovo and Turkey in Pristina, Kosovo, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) Czechia players celebrate after winning a penalty shootout at the end of the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Czechia and Denmark in Prague, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Fans react after a penalty shootout at the end of the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut) DR Congo's players celebrate at the end of the World Cup playoff final soccer match between DR Congo and Jamaica in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) Bosnia's Esmir Bajraktarevic celebrates after winning a penalty shootout during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut) Italy's Marco Palestra, left, and Leonardo Spinazzola console each other after losing a penalty shootout during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut) Sweden's Gustaf Lagerbielke, left, celebrates after scoring their second goal during a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Sweden and Poland in Stockholm, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Jonas Ekstromer/TT via AP) Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures from the touchline during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut) Bosnia's coach Sergej Barbarez is chaired aloft as he celebrates after winning a penalty shootout during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut) Iraqi fans cheer in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, after their country's second goal against Bolivia in a World Cup 2026 playoff final. (AP Photo/ Hadi Mizban) Bosnian fans wave flags as they celebrate after the Bosnian national team qualified for the World Cup by winning a penalty shootout against Italy, in Zenica, Bosnia, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut) Congolese football fans celebrate in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, as their team qualified for World Cup by winning over Jamaica in an intercontinental playoff, Wednesday, April 1, 2026.(AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa) Iraq's coach Graham Arnold, left, celebrates as Bolivia's goalkeeper Carlos Lampe, right, comforts Luis Haquin after the World Cup playoff final soccer match between Iraq and Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Soccer fans take to the streets of the enclave in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, after the Iraq soccer team beat Bolivia in a World Cup 2026 playoff final. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) Bolivia fans react after their country's loss to Iraq in a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match, in La Paz, Bolivia, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

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