Mexico, April 1 -- The remaining places for this year's FIFA World Cup were finalized on Tuesday, capping a qualifying campaign that spanned nearly three years and setting the stagefor the tournament's first 48-team edition.
The competition will be held across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
The expanded format has opened the door to new contenders while leaving several established powers and high-profile players on the outside looking in.
Italy will miss a third straight World Cup after losing its playoff final to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties. It has been a rapid fall for the Azzurri, which won its fourth World Cup title in 2006 and won the 2020 European Championship.
Elsewhere, Nigeria's absence st...