Fakayejo Paul
The collapse of Italian football’s leadership is complete. On Thursday, April 2, 2026, Gabriele Gravina officially resigned as the President of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), bowing to immense political and public pressure following the national team’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
Gravina, who had been in charge since 2018, tendered his resignation during an emergency meeting in Rome with the heads of Serie A, Serie B, and other major footballing bodies.
The “Zenica Tragedy”
The final straw was Tuesday’s heartbreaking loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off final. After a 1-1 draw in Zenica, the Azzurri were defeated on penalties, confirming they will miss the 2026 tournament in North America.
This marks a historic low for the four-time world champions, who have now failed to reach the finals in 2018, 2022, and 2026.
Fallout and “Total Overhaul”
The resignation has triggered a massive domino effect across the Italian game:
- Gennaro Gattuso’s Future: The head coach is expected to step down or be sacked within the next 24 hours. Gattuso, who took over from Luciano Spalletti mid-campaign, was unable to steady a squad that has struggled since their Euro 2020 triumph.
- Management Departures: Team manager Gianluigi Buffon is also reportedly set to leave his role as part of a “clean slate” initiative.
- Government Intervention: Italy’s Sports Minister, Andrea Abodi, has called for the federation to be rebuilt “from the ground up,” suggesting the appointment of an outside commissioner rather than a quick election.
What’s Next?
The FIGC has called for an extraordinary assembly on June 22, 2026, to elect a new president. In the meantime, Gravina is scheduled to appear before a parliamentary committee next Wednesday to “report on the state of health of Italian soccer.”
Names already being discussed as potential successors include former CONI head Giovanni Malagò and legendary former players who could act as a bridge between the board and the pitch.
For the fans, the resignation is seen as a necessary, albeit painful, first step in addressing a 12-year period that has seen Italy win only one World Cup finals match since their 2006 title.