April 2, 2026
Gabriele Gravina has officially resigned from the leadership of the Italian Football Federation. The news emerged during an emergency meeting held this afternoon at the federation's headquarters in Rome, attended by representatives from all parts of Italian football—from Serie A to the players' and coaches' associations.
At the time of his resignation, Gravina set the date for the election of his successor: an extraordinary assembly will be held in Rome on June 22 to choose the new president.
The context: three World Cups in a row cancelled
Gravina had been at the helm of the FIGC since 2018. His departure comes in the wake of the country's third consecutive World Cup qualification failure, a negative record that has fueled growing discontent both within the political community and within the Italian sports world more generally.
To make matters worse, Gravina made some comments after the Bosnian match: in an attempt to explain the gap in results between football and other disciplines, he effectively belittled other sports by calling them "amateur" compared to professional football. Reactions from numerous top-level athletes were immediate.
Political reactions
The government had expressed a clear position. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi had publicly declared that Italian football required a profound overhaul, starting with a change at the top of the federation. Several parties, both ruling and opposition, had also loudly called for a step back.
Who leaves with him
In addition to Gravina, Gigi Buffon, who served as the national team's delegation leader, is also leaving his post. The position of coach Gennaro Gattuso remains unclear.
Possible successors
Among the most likely candidates for the presidency is Giovanni Malagò, fresh from his success at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Giancarlo Abete and Matteo Marani are also being circulated. Everything will depend on the elective assembly in June.
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