Buffon and Gravina Resign as Italy Miss Third Straight World Cup

"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 heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina. By Thursday, both he and Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina had stepped down from their positions.

The Azzurri will be absent from the 2026 World Cup, marking an unprecedented third consecutive tournament they'll watch from home — missing 2018, 2022, and now 2026. The last time Italy competed at a World Cup finals, they managed just one victory. That was twelve years ago.

Italian football federation in crisis mode

Gravina assumed control in 2018, replacing Carlo Tavecchio, who departed after Italy's failure to qualify for the 2018 tournament. There's clearly a systemic issue that extends far beyond any individual administrator's time in office. Gravina's tenure was briefly validated by winning Euro 2020, which temporarily shielded him from criticism. However, after missing two World Cups, the Italian government's patience wore thin, and Gravina — who was re-elected as recently as February 2025 with a mandate extending to 2028 — chose to resign before being forced out.

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

Buffon's departure carried more emotional weight. The legendary goalkeeper had submitted his resignation immediately after the Bosnia defeat but was requested to delay. Once Gravina announced his exit, Buffon followed suit. The icon of Italy's 2006 World Cup championship squad departs having been unable to accomplish the mission that meant everything to him — returning Italy to football's biggest stage.

Coaching position now wide open

The managerial situation has become impossible to ignore. Gennaro Gattuso's contract runs through June, and with new leadership arriving at the FIGC, expectations for a complete overhaul are entirely justified. Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri have already emerged as potential replacements. Both coaches are currently available, both command substantial salaries — and both would bring vastly different tactical philosophies regarding the direction Italian football should pursue.

Italy's Sports Minister Andrea Abodi characterized this as a "definitive defeat" and emphasized that Italian football requires a "rebuild from the ground up." This isn't empty political speak. Italy hasn't claimed victory in a World Cup knockout fixture since their 2006 triumph. While European championship success temporarily masked deeper issues, back-to-back qualification failures have now laid bare the fundamental problems.

The prospects of any incoming manager quickly reversing this decline are slim. The underlying challenges — a Serie A that has fallen behind both commercially and competitively, a youth development infrastructure that no longer consistently produces world-class technical talent — cannot be resolved in a single qualifying cycle. Whoever assumes Gravina's position on June 22 will inherit a legitimate institutional crisis, not merely a disappointing result.

Gravina also managed to create additional controversy during his exit. When questioned about why Italy excels in other sports but struggles in football, he suggested it was because other disciplines remain amateur while football is professional. Italian athletes across various sports responded sharply on social media. Olympic bronze medallist boxer Irma Testa fired back: "We are the real professionals." The FIGC subsequently issued a damage-control clarification. Hardly the dignified departure of someone who maintained credibility.