Gabriele Gravina has stepped down from his position as president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). The decision follows the national side's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, marking the third consecutive time the four-time champions have missed the tournament. Italy suffered a decisive defeat in the play-offs, which ended their hopes of appearing at the finals in North America.
Gravina had led the federation since October 2018 and oversaw the men's national team during its Euro 2020 victory. However, according to Sky Sports, the recent sporting failure prompted his immediate departure. The FIGC must now organise elections to appoint a successor to lead the organisation through its next cycle, per reports from Reuters.
National team manager Luciano Spalletti's future remains uncertain following the resignation of the man who appointed him. The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) is expected to oversee the transition period until a new president is officially installed. The failure has caused significant debate regarding the structure of Italian football and its youth development systems.
