Italy 2026 World Cup: Gabriele Gravina resigns as head of the Italian Football Federation
Gabriele Gravina resigned from his post after the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive year.
The four-time world champions suffered another play-off final defeat on Tuesday when they lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
No previous winner of the tournament has missed three consecutive World Cups; Italy missed out on this trophy after missing out on Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.
Also Thursday, former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who worked closely with the men’s national team, resigned as chairman of the delegation. via Instagram., external
Buffon, who was part of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning team, wrote that with Gravina’s decision to leave he felt he had to do the same “as an act of responsibility”.
“The main goal was to bring Italy back to the World Cup. And we failed to do that,” added Buffon, 48.
“It is only fair to leave it to those who will pursue the freedom to choose who they think is best to play my role.”
Gravina, 72, UEFA’s first vice president, announced his resignation after a meeting held at the FIGC’s headquarters in Rome.
He took office in October 2018 after his predecessor Carlo Tavecchio resigned after Italy failed to beat Sweden in last year’s World Cup play-offs.
