Gabriele Gravina confirmed his intention to stay at the helm of the Italian Football Federation despite the new fiasco of the Nazionale and the failure to qualify for the World Cup. The head of the FIGC also assured coach Gennaro Gattuso of his trust despite the sporting crisis.
Arriving at the helm of the team for an almost impossible mission, Gennaro Gattuso and his luxury delegation (including Buffon and Bonucci) failed in their quest for qualification for the 2026 World Cup. After being swept aside by Norway during the qualifiers, Italy was beaten on Tuesday by Bosnia-Herzegovina in the final of the qualifying playoffs for the World Cup. In tears after this disappointment, which will deprive the Nazionale of the tournament for the third consecutive time, the coach received support from FIGC President Gabriele Gravina.
“I asked him to stay,” said the head of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) after the defeat in Zenica, as reported by several media outlets including Gazzetta dello Sport.
No resignation for Gravina
Appointed in June 2025 after unsuccessful spells at OM and Split in Croatia, “Rino” led eight matches of the Italian national team with a record of six wins and two defeats (21 goals scored, 11 conceded). The problem is that each of these defeats has been very costly to Italy in the race for the World Cup to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
And as the fate of the Nazionale will now have to turn towards the distant Euro 2028, Gabriele Gravina does not seem ready to trigger a revolution at the top of the FIGC, let alone resign.
“I understand the calls for resignation, which I have become particularly accustomed to lately, but the decisions rightly belong to the Federal Council,” said the 72-year-old leader to the press after Italians failed to qualify for the next World Cup.
Strong decisions expected in Italy in the coming days?
Keen not to react hastily, Gabriele Gravina seems to stand firm despite the crisis in Italian football. An expected reaction from a man who likes to describe himself as a reed, able to bend without breaking.
“I take my responsibilities, but there is a body tasked with assessing the situation, the Federal Council, which I have already summoned for next week,” added the president of the FIGC. “In-depth analyses will be conducted there, impacting all of Italian football, as it is clear that we are going through a major crisis. Unfortunately, some think that the Federation can decide, choose how to build a team, but a broad reflection is necessary, and we will focus on it next week.”
The future of Gabriele Gravina and that of Gennaro Gattuso at the helm of the Nazionale could therefore be decided quickly. But until that Federal Council meeting, Italian football remains mired in crisis.
