Italy’s Football Chief Resigns After Team Failed To Qualify For World Cup

The head of Italy’s football federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, has resigned after the men’s national team failed to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time.

Gravina announced his decision following a meeting at the federation’s headquarters in Rome. His resignation came shortly after Italy’s Sports Minister, Andrea Abodi, publicly called on him to step down.

Italy, a four-time World Cup champion, was eliminated in the play-offs after losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina. This means the team will miss the upcoming World Cup scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The federation confirmed that a new presidential election will be held on June 22. Among the possible candidates is Giovanni Malagò.

Further changes are expected within the team’s leadership. Head coach Gennaro Gattuso is likely to step down, while general manager Gianluigi Buffon has already resigned.

Gravina, who became FIGC president in 2018, oversaw Italy’s victory at UEFA Euro 2020, where the team defeated England to win the title. However, repeated failures to qualify for the World Cup and poor performances in recent tournaments led to increasing pressure on his leadership.

Italy’s football struggles extend beyond the national team. No club from the country’s top league has won the UEFA Champions League since 2010.

The country is also set to co-host UEFA Euro 2032 with Turkey, but concerns have been raised about stadium infrastructure. UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin warned that Italy could lose hosting rights if improvements are not made.

Despite football setbacks, Italy has seen strong success in other sports, including impressive performances at recent Olympic Games and achievements by tennis star Jannik Sinner.

Gravina had earlier acknowledged that Italian football is facing a deep crisis, highlighting the need for major structural changes within the system.