2026 World Cup/Italy: "The crisis is serious, we need to rethink football" (G. Gravina, FIGC)

"I understand that there may be calls for resignations, but these are matters which, according to the regulations, fall within the remit of the Federal Council. I have requested that a Federal Council meeting be convened next week, we must assess the situation internally. The objective responsibility lies with the Italian Football Federation, it lies with me, but the crisis is serious, we need to rethink football," Gabriele Gravina, president of Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio, said following Italy’s elimination in the 2026 World Cup play-offs by Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-1, 4-1 on penalties) in Zenica (BIH) on 31/03/2026.

"We speak about the FIGC as if it were the only actor, whereas the Federation merely synthesises. There are the leagues, there are the clubs. This is why a broader reflection is needed, to change things," he added.

Italy, four-time World Cup winners (1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006), will miss the 23^rd edition of the competition in 2026 (United States, Mexico and Canada), having already failed to qualify for the previous two editions, in 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar)…