Earthquake in Italy: the federation president, Gabriele Gravina, resigns after the 2026 World Cup fiasco

A thunderclap in Italian football. Gabriele Gravina announced his resignation as president of the Italian Football Federation, the day after Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. This decision comes in the wake of a crisis meeting held after the penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European playoffs, on Tuesday.

During discussions with the major stakeholders in Italian football — representatives of Serie A, Serie B, Lega Pro, as well as players’ and coaches’ associations — Gravina formalized his departure. In office since February 2025, the leader thus pays the consequences of another major failure by the national team on the international stage. The election of his successor is already scheduled for June 22.