FILE – A journalist stands at the entrance of the FIGC Italian Soccer Federation, where a logo with four stars (one for each World Cup won) is seen partly in the shade, in Rome, on Nov. 14, 2017.
Alessandra Tarantino/AP
Italy’s coach Gennaro Gattuso walks off the pitch after losing in a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Fabio Ferrari/AP
Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma walks off the pitch after losing in a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Fabio Ferrari/AP
A broken soccer ball is pictured on a street in Rome, Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Gregorio Borgia/AP
Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon, right, walks on the pitch ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup playoff final soccer match against Bosnia, at the Bilino Polje stadium, in Zenica, Bosnia, Monday, March 30, 2026.
Armin Durgut/AP
ROME (AP) — Italy’s soccer federation president resigned amid political pressure on Thursday, two days after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
Gabriele Gravina’s decision was quickly followed by Gianluigi Buffon stepping down as the national team’s delegation chief and will likely lead to the ouster of Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, too.
Article continues below this ad
Italy Sports Minister Andrea Abodi called for a change in the country’s soccer leadership after Gravina oversaw two sets of disappointing World Cup qualifiers.
“It’s evident to everyone that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled,” Abodi said on Wednesday, “and that process needs to start with new leadership at the FIGC (federation).”
Italy’s chances of reaching this year’s tournament in North America ended on Tuesday after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff.
Buffon was the goalkeeper on the World Cup-winning 2006 team and is Italy’s record-holder with 176 appearances as a player. He was behind Gattuso’s hiring.
Article continues below this ad
“It’s only fair to leave to those who come after me the freedom of selecting who will replace me,” Buffon said. “Representing the national team is an honor and a passion that has embodied me since I was a kid.”
Gravina took charge of the federation in 2018 replacing Carlo Tavecchio, who also stepped down after Italy failed to reach that year’s World Cup.
The defeat to Bosnia added more misery for four-time champion Italy after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in the qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups.
Italy’s World Cup struggles go back all the way to 2010 and 2014 when it failed to advance from its group on both occasions.
Article continues below this ad
The Azzurri’s last World Cup knockout match was in 2006 when they won the title by beating France in the final after a penalty shootout.
Gravina did oversee Italy’s European Championship trophy in 2021.
“Soccer has been in trouble since 2006,” Italian coaches association president Renzo Ulivieri said.
Players’ association president Umberto Calcagno said new regulations promoting the use of more Italian players in Serie A were necessary: “A rapid change needs to be made.”
Article continues below this ad
An election was called for June 22 to elect a new FIGC president.
Gravina also announced that he would attend a hearing in Italy’s parliament next Wednesday to discuss “the wellbeing of Italian soccer.”
Mancini, Inzaghi, Conte, Allegri
Gattuso took over from the fired Luciano Spalletti in June with the squad already in crisis mode following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier.
Article continues below this ad
The Azzurri then went on a six-match winning streak before losing again to Norway in November to finish second in their group and end up in the playoffs again.
Among those being mentioned to replace Gattuso are Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri.
Mancini coached Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 then failed to get the Azzurri to the next year’s World Cup before bolting to take over Saudi Arabia’s national team.
Inzaghi coached Inter Milan to the Serie A title in 2024 and now manages Saudi club Al-Hilal.
Article continues below this ad
Conte coached Italy at the 2016 European Championship and is currently at Napoli.
Gravina is a UEFA vice president
Gravina is also Aleksander Ceferin’s top vice president at UEFA.
Article continues below this ad
UEFA statutes require that executive committee members are also senior FA officials but Gravina could stay in the UEFA role as a lame duck as long as the FIGC’s new leadership doesn’t demand his removal.
Gravina was re-elected last year by UEFA so he has three more years in his current term.
“Gabriele is my first vice president and is very important to me,” Ceferin said in Thursday’s Gazzetta dello Sport after attending the playoff in Bosnia.
Euro 2032
Besides revitalizing the national team, whoever replaces Gravina will be tasked with getting Italy’s dilapidated stadiums ready to host the 2032 European Championship.
Article continues below this ad
Italy is slated to co-host Euro 2032 with Turkey.
“I hope that the infrastructure is ready,” Ceferin said. “Otherwise the tournament won’t be played in Italy.”
Article continues below this ad
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer