Former world champions, Italy will be missing when the World Cup kicks off in Russia next summer after they were held to a goalless draw by Sweden in Milan.
Italy needed to overturn a 1-0 deficit they suffered in the first leg, but they failed to score, instead drawing 0-0 with Sweden.
With the result, the Italians will now miss the world event for the first time since 1958.
Italy, who won the 2006 edition, will now miss a tournament in which they have been finalist six times, and winners four times. .
Meanwhile, for Sweden, they have Jakob Johansson’s deflected strike in the first leg, which is the difference, to thank for their return to the world since 2006.