1.4.2026
Italy’s Sport Minister Andrea Abodi said on Wednesday the head of the country’s football federation should step down after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
The Azzurri fell at the play-offs again, this time after a penalty shoot-out against Bosnia and Hercegovina on Tuesday and will miss this summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The head of the federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, said he would not resign but a board meeting next week would decide whether he will keep his position.
“It’s clear that Italian football needs to be rebuilt from the ground up and that starts with changes at the top of the FIGC,” Abodi said in a statement.
Against Bosnia, Italy had a promising start after Moise Kean scored in 16 minutes, but disaster struck when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off just before half-time.
Italy struggled to contain their opponents, Haris Tabakovic equalised ten minutes before the end of the game and they won 4-1 on penalties.
Speaking on the defeat, manager Genario Gattuso said: “We did not deserve this. We show passion, we played with 10 men since minute 40… we are sad, but this is football. I’m proud of my team. We are hurt”