Buffon and Gravina Step Down After Italy's Third Consecutive World Cup Failure

"We didn't succeed. It's fair to leave it to those who will come after." Those were the words Gianluigi Buffon posted on Instagram following Italy's devastating penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina. By Thursday, both the legendary goalkeeper and Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina had resigned from their positions.

The Azzurri will be absent from the 2026 World Cup—marking an unprecedented third consecutive tournament they've failed to qualify for, following their absences in 2018 and 2022. To put this drought in perspective, the last time Italy actually competed at a World Cup finals and won a match was twelve years ago.

Italian football's leadership crisis deepens

Gravina assumed the FIGC presidency in 2018, replacing Carlo Tavecchio, who had stepped down after Italy's failure to reach the 2018 tournament. The pattern of leadership turnover extends far beyond any single administrator's term. While Gravina's stock rose considerably after Italy's Euro 2020 triumph—which temporarily shielded him from criticism—two subsequent World Cup qualification failures proved too much for the Italian government to tolerate. Despite being re-elected as recently as February 2025 with a mandate extending through 2028, Gravina chose to resign rather than face removal.

"After many years there is a feeling of great bitterness, but great serenity," Gravina stated to the media. The federation has scheduled an extraordinary assembly for June 22 to select his successor. Early frontrunners include former Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) chief Giovanni Malagò, 67, and ex-FIGC president Giancarlo Abete, 75, who previously led the organization from 2007 to 2014.

Buffon's departure carried a more personal dimension. The World Cup-winning goalkeeper from 2006 had actually tendered his resignation immediately following the Bosnia defeat but was asked to delay the announcement. Once Gravina made his move, Buffon followed suit. He exits having been unable to accomplish the mission he cared about most—restoring Italy to the World Cup stage.

Coaching carousel begins as Gattuso's tenure ends

The managerial situation has become the next pressing concern. Gennaro Gattuso's contract expires this June, and with new leadership incoming at the federation, a complete overhaul seems inevitable. Two high-profile names have already emerged as potential replacements: Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri. Both coaches are currently available, both command substantial salaries, and both represent contrasting tactical philosophies for the direction Italian football might take.

Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi characterized the qualification failure as a "definitive defeat" and emphasized that Italian football requires a complete "rebuild from the ground up." This isn't empty political rhetoric. Italy hasn't won a knockout stage match at a World Cup since lifting the trophy in 2006. Whatever success at the European Championships may have masked, back-to-back World Cup qualification failures have now laid bare the fundamental problems.

The betting odds on any incoming manager quickly reversing Italy's fortunes are lengthy. The systemic issues plaguing Italian football—including Serie A's declining commercial and competitive standing, plus a youth development pipeline that no longer consistently produces world-class technical talent—cannot be resolved in a single qualification cycle. Whoever assumes Gravina's chair on June 22 will inherit a genuine crisis situation, not merely a disappointing result.

Gravina also managed to create additional controversy during his exit. When questioned about why Italy achieves success in other sports but struggles in football, he suggested it stemmed from those disciplines being amateur pursuits while football operates professionally. Italian athletes from various sports quickly flooded social media with critical responses. Olympic bronze medallist boxer Irma Testa fired back: "We are the real professionals." The FIGC subsequently issued a clarification statement—hardly the graceful exit of someone commanding respect on the way out.