Italian Soccer Federation President Resigns After Third Straight World Cup Miss
Finn's Take· TL;DR- Italy's federation president resigned after the team missed a third consecutive World Cup, a historic failure for the four-time champion nation.
- Coach Gennaro Gattuso is likely to be ousted following Tuesday's penalty shootout loss to 66th-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina in qualifying.
- Systemic problems in Italian soccer extend back to 2010, with experts calling for structural reforms including more Italian players in Serie A.
Historic Failure Triggers Leadership Exodus
Italy's soccer federation president resigned amid political pressure on Thursday, two days after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup . Gabriele Gravina's decision was quickly followed by Gianluigi Buffon stepping down as the national team's delegation chief and will likely lead to the ouster of Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, too .
This marks Italy's third consecutive absence from the tournament and a historic low as the first former champions to miss three straight World Cups . The defeat to Bosnia added more misery for four-time champion Italy after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in the qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups .
Italy's chances of reaching this year's tournament in North America ended on Tuesday after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff . The loss to 66th-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina represents a particularly stinging defeat for a nation that has won four World Cup titles.
Political Pressure Forces Change
Italy Sports Minister Andrea Abodi called for a change in the country's soccer leadership after Gravina oversaw two sets of disappointing World Cup qualifiers . "It's evident to everyone that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled," Abodi said on Wednesday, "and that process needs to start with new leadership at the FIGC (federation)" .
Gravina took charge of the federation in 2018 replacing Carlo Tavecchio, who also stepped down after Italy failed to reach that year's World Cup . Despite overseeing Italy's European Championship trophy in 2021 , Gravina couldn't solve the country's World Cup qualification woes.
The federation confirmed that a new president will be elected on June 22 . Former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon stepped down from his role as head of delegation, a position he had held since August 2023 .
Systemic Problems Run Deep
Italy's World Cup struggles go back all the way to 2010 and 2014 when it failed to advance from its group on both occasions . The Azzurri's last World Cup knockout match was in 2006 when they won the title by beating France in the final after a penalty shootout .
"Soccer has been in trouble since 2006," Italian coaches association president Renzo Ulivieri said . Players' association president Umberto Calcagno said new regulations promoting the use of more Italian players in Serie A were necessary: "A rapid change needs to be made" .
Looking Ahead
While Italy grapples with its ongoing crisis, the 2026 World Cup has generated unprecedented demand despite soaring costs. FIFA has raised prices for over 40 games of the World Cup in its latest sale that kicked off Wednesday, according to an NPR count. The most expensive tickets to the final now cost $10,900 . To put that into perspective, a World Cup final ticket for the tournament in Qatar in 2022 would have cost just $1,600 .
Italy's new leadership will inherit a program in desperate need of structural reform. With the country set to co-host the 2032 European Championships with Turkey, the pressure to rebuild and restore credibility has never been greater. The challenge extends beyond just qualifying for tournaments—it's about recapturing the identity and excellence that once made Italian soccer a global powerhouse.