Trending Now - Italy's Football Turmoil Deepens as Gattuso and Buffon Resign
WHO:
AP News - Gianluigi Buffon stated, “It’s only fair to leave to those who come after me the freedom of selecting who will replace me.”
AP News - Italian coaches association president Renzo Ulivieri said, “Soccer has been in trouble since 2006.”
AP News - Players’ association president Umberto Calcagno emphasized that “A rapid change needs to be made.”
AP News - Gabriele Gravina is a UEFA vice president and Aleksander Ceferin’s top vice president at UEFA.
AP News - Fabio Cannavaro is currently leading Uzbekistan into their first World Cup.
Daily Mail Sports - Gennaro Gattuso, head coach of Italy's national football team.
AP News - Gabriele Gravina, president of Italy’s soccer federation; Gianluigi Buffon, national team’s delegation chief; Andrea Abodi, Italy Sports Minister.
AP News - Italian coaches association president Renzo Ulivieri; players’ association president Umberto Calcagno.
WHAT:
AP News - Gennaro Gattuso's contract was mutually terminated following Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup.
AP News - Italy's national team has been eliminated from World Cup qualification for three consecutive tournaments: 2018, 2022, and 2026.
AP News - Gravina announced he would attend a hearing in Italy’s parliament on April 5th, 2026, to discuss “the wellbeing of Italian soccer.”
AP News - 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.
ESPN - Gennaro Gattuso has left his role as Italy manager after failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
AP News - Gabriele Gravina resigned as president of Italy’s soccer federation on March 31st, 2026.
AP News - Gianluigi Buffon stepped down as the national team’s delegation chief following Gravina's resignation.
AP News - Italy's national team was eliminated from World Cup qualification on March 31st, 2026, after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
AP News - Italy has failed to qualify for the World Cup for three consecutive tournaments (2018, 2022, and 2026).
WHERE:
AP News - Italy; Bosnia and Herzegovina (location of the qualifying playoff match).
WHEN:
AP News - Gabriele Gravina announced he would attend a hearing in Italy’s parliament on April 5th, 2026.
AP News - An election for a new FIGC president is scheduled for June 22nd, 2026.
AP News - Gabriele Gravina resigned on March 31st, 2026.
AP News - Italy's national team was eliminated from World Cup qualification on March 31st, 2026.
AP News - An election for a new FIGC president is scheduled for June 22nd, 2026.
WHY:
AP News - Italy Sports Minister Andrea Abodi stated on March 30th, 2026, that “It’s evident to everyone that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled.”
AP News - Gravina's resignation was prompted by political pressure following Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup.
AP News - Italy Sports Minister Andrea Abodi stated that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled, starting with new leadership at the FIGC.
HOW:
AP News - Gattuso took over as Italy manager in June 2025 after Luciano Spalletti was fired.
AP News - Gravina oversaw Italy’s European Championship trophy win in 2021.
AP News - Italy's national team was eliminated from World Cup qualification after a penalty shootout against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
(UPDATED April 3, 2026 17:10 UTC)
Gennaro Gattuso's contract as Italy's national soccer team manager has been mutually terminated following the team's failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive tournament, having missed out in 2018, 2022, and now 2026. In response to the ongoing struggles, Gianluigi Buffon remarked that it’s only fair to allow those who come after him the freedom to choose his successor, while players’ association president Umberto Calcagno stressed the need for rapid change in the sport. Additionally, Gabriele Gravina announced he will attend a hearing in Italy’s parliament April 5th, as the Italian coaches association president, Renzo Ulivieri, pointed out that soccer has been in trouble since 2006.
--
(UPDATED April 3, 2026 15:18 UTC)
Gabriele Gravina, UEFA vice president and top aide to Aleksander Ceferin, announced he will attend a hearing in Italy’s parliament April 5th to discuss the wellbeing of Italian soccer, which has faced significant challenges. This comes as Fabio Cannavaro leads Uzbekistan into their first World Cup, while Italy's last knockout match in the tournament was back in 2006 when they clinched the title against France in a dramatic penalty shootout. With an election for a new FIGC president set for June 22nd, the urgency for reform is underscored by Italy's Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, who recently emphasized the need for an overhaul of the sport in the country.
--
(UPDATED April 3, 2026 13:27 UTC)
Gennaro Gattuso has stepped down as head coach of Italy's national football team after the squad failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time, following a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday. In the wake of this disappointing outcome, Gabriele Gravina resigned as president of Italy’s soccer federation, a decision that was influenced by political pressure, while Gianluigi Buffon also left his position as the national team’s delegation chief. An election for a new president of the Italian Football Federation is set to take place June 22nd, as calls for a complete overhaul of Italian soccer grow stronger.