By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Gabriele Gravina has resigned as president of the Italian Football Federation following Italy’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, with Gianluigi Buffon also stepping down from his role as head of delegation.
The departures were confirmed shortly after Italy’s elimination in the qualification playoffs, a result that extended the nation’s absence from the World Cup and prompted immediate leadership changes at the federation level.
Gravina, who had led the FIGC since 2018, took responsibility for the outcome, acknowledging that failure to secure qualification ultimately necessitated a change in leadership. His tenure included Italy’s triumph at UEFA Euro 2020, but recent World Cup qualification setbacks overshadowed that success.
Buffon, a World Cup winner in 2006 and one of Italy’s most respected figures, also resigned in the aftermath, aligning his decision with the need for accountability following the team’s inability to reach the global tournament.
Italy’s failure to qualify marks another disappointing chapter for the four-time world champions, who have struggled in recent qualifying cycles despite maintaining a strong presence in European competitions.
The Italian federation is now expected to initiate the process of appointing new leadership, with an extraordinary assembly likely to be convened to determine Gravina’s successor and outline the next phase for the national team.
Attention will also turn to the technical bench, where further changes could follow as part of a broader reset aimed at restoring Italy’s competitiveness on the international stage.
For Italian football, the resignations signal a shift in direction driven by results, as the federation moves to rebuild ahead of future competitions.