Italian Football Chief Resigns: FIGC Crisis & Presidential Race Begins

Gabriele Gravina has resigned as president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) following the national team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The announcement came on Thursday, April 2, 2026, marking the end of a tenure that began in October 2018. The decision follows intense pressure from government officials and fans after the Azzurri missed the global tournament for the third consecutive cycle.

Political Pressure and Resignation

The resignation was confirmed by Reuters on April 2, 2026, after an emergency meeting of the FIGC general council. Prior to the announcement, Italy’s Sports Minister Andrea Abodi had publicly called for leadership changes within the federation. Speaking on April 1, 2026, Abodi emphasized the need for a structural overhaul of Italian soccer.

It’s evident to everyone that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled, and that process needs to start with new leadership at the FIGC.

Andrea Abodi, Sports Minister

Gravina had previously survived similar scrutiny after the qualifying elimination for the 2022 World Cup. However, the repeated failure to reach the tournament stage ultimately led to his departure. Football Italia reported that Gravina tendered his resignation during the emergency council meeting held at the FIGC headquarters in Rome.

Qualifying Campaign Collapse

The immediate catalyst for the resignation was Italy’s defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the qualifying playoffs. The match took place on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Zenica. Italy lost the contest via a penalty shootout, sealing their absence from the 2026 World Cup.

This result extended a historic drought for the four-time world champions. According to ESPN, the Azzurri were eliminated at the same qualifying stage by Sweden ahead of the 2018 World Cup and by North Macedonia in 2022. The loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, ranked 66th in the world, was viewed as a significant upset and a culmination of systemic issues within the national program.

Emergency Council Meeting

The emergency meeting where Gravina resigned was attended by key figures across the Italian football landscape. Football Italia listed the prominent officials present during the session that accepted the president’s departure.

• Ezio Simonelli, Serie A President
• Paolo Bedin, Serie B President
• Matteo Marani, Serie C President
• Giancarlo Abete, President of the amateur leagues
• Umberto Calcagno, head of the players’ association
• Renzo Ulivieri, head of the coaches’ association

The presence of league presidents and association heads underscored the breadth of the crisis facing the federation. Gravina had held the highest position within the Italian football association since October 2018. During his tenure, the FIGC oversaw significant achievements alongside notable failures.

Tenure Review and Achievements

While Gravina’s legacy is now dominated by World Cup failures, his time as president included a major trophy victory. Football Italia noted that the Nazionale won Euro 2020 during his leadership. However, the federation failed to qualify for the 2022 and 2026 World Cups while he was in charge. Italy had also failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup prior to Gravina’s appointment, meaning the national team has missed four consecutive tournaments.

Gravina was responsible for appointing the national team head coaches during this period. He appointed Luciano Spalletti in 2023. Spalletti was subsequently fired after Italy lost its opening qualifier to Norway last year. Gravina then appointed Gennaro Gattuso in 2025.

Coaching Uncertainty

Alongside the presidential vacancy, the future of head coach Gennaro Gattuso remains uncertain. Following the loss in Bosnia, Gattuso declined to discuss his position immediately. Speaking to ESPN on March 31, 2026, he expressed distress over the result but deferred questions regarding his employment status.

I’m not interested at all in talking about my future today. It hurts, it really hurts. More than hurting me, it hurts to see this group which has really given everything in these months.

Gennaro Gattuso, Italy Head Coach

Gattuso took over the team when Luciano Spalletti was dismissed. His contract status and potential retention under a new FIGC president have not been disclosed. The sports minister’s call for new leadership suggests that coaching changes may accompany the administrative overhaul.

Succession Plan

The FIGC has already scheduled the process to select Gravina’s replacement. According to Football Italia, an election to appoint the new president will take place on June 22, 2026. This timeline allows the federation approximately two months to organize the electoral process and stabilize the organization before the next competitive cycle begins.

Gravina hinted at potential elections shortly after the playoff loss. Before resigning, he told reporters that deeper reflections were necessary. Next week we will make much deeper reflections on the situation, Gravina said following the loss in Bosnia. You’ll see a lot of evaluations to consider. The emergency meeting on April 2, 2026, accelerated that timeline into a definitive resignation.

Italian sports media has already begun speculating on potential successors. Reports from Gazzetta.it suggest that Serie A clubs are seeking greater influence in the federation’s future. Some outlets have mentioned Giovanni Malagò as a potential candidate for the post-Gravina era, though no official candidacies have been confirmed ahead of the June election.

The resignation marks a pivotal moment for Italian football. With a new president to be elected in June and a head coach whose future is in doubt, the FIGC faces a period of significant reconstruction. The federation must address the qualifying failures that have plagued the national team since 2017 while managing the expectations of a fanbase desperate for World Cup participation.