Italy’s football establishment has collapsed at its highest levels following the national team’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, with Gianluigi Buffon stepping down as delegation chief and Gennaro Gattuso confirming his resignation as head coach.
The fallout began with Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina resigning under political pressure, two days after the national team failed to reach a third successive World Cup. Buffon’s departure followed shortly after, with Gattuso’s exit widely expected and since confirmed.
In a statement posted to social media, Buffon said he had initially held back to allow for calm reflection after the elimination. “Now that President Gravina has decided to step down, I feel free to perform what I consider a responsible act,” he wrote. “The main objective was to lead Italy back to the World Cup. And we did not achieve it.”
Gattuso, in his own farewell statement, expressed deep regret while acknowledging the necessity of stepping aside. “With a heavy heart, having failed to achieve the goal we set ourselves, I consider my time as coach of the national team to be over,” he said. “I would like to thank President Gravina and Gianluigi Buffon, along with all the Federation’s staff, for the trust and support they have always shown me.”
Gattuso took charge of Italy in June 2025 following the sacking of Luciano Spalletti, himself dismissed after a 3-0 defeat to Norway in their opening qualifier. Despite guiding the Azzurri to six wins from eight matches, the loss to Norway and a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina proved fatal.
Italy’s World Cup struggles stretch back to 2010 and 2014, when the four-time champions failed to advance from the group stage at both tournaments, before missing the last three qualifying playoffs against Sweden, North Macedonia, and now Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Italy has become the first World Cup-winning nation to miss three consecutive tournaments, an unwanted record that has shocked the football world.
Italy Sports Minister Andrea Abodi called for a comprehensive overhaul of Italian football, stating: “It’s evident to everyone that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled, and that process needs to start with new leadership at the FIGC.”
Among the names reported as candidates to succeed Gattuso are Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri. Mancini led Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 before failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, after which he departed to coach Saudi Arabia’s national team. A new federation president is expected to be elected in June.
