Italy Soccer Federation Chief Gabriele Gravina Steps Down After World Cup Failure Italian soccer federation (Figc) president Gabriele Gravina resigned on Thursday following the national team’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time. The decision came after Italy’s defeat on penalties in the playoff against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which marked another setback in the country’s efforts to secure a place in the tournament. Gravina, who had led the federation since 2018, had been under pressure from the government to step down after the loss, which intensified criticism of his leadership. Gravina’s tenure as Figc president began in October 2018, when he was elected unopposed to replace Carlo Tavecchio, who had resigned after Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. His term included both successes and challenges. While Italy’s national team won the Euro 2020 tournament in 2021, a historic achievement, the squad has struggled in World Cup qualifiers, failing to qualify since 2014. The latest defeat, which ended Italy’s hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup, further eroded public and political confidence in his leadership. The Italian Sports Minister, Andrea Abodi, described the loss as a “definitive defeat” and called for a complete rebuild of the country’s football infrastructure. Gravina, however, expressed understanding of the criticism, stating that evaluations should take place at the federation’s headquarters in Rome. There, he met with the six federal components of the Figc—including Serie A, B, and C leagues, the National Amateur League, the Players’ Association, and the Coaches Association—to announce his resignation. Gravina’s resignation comes after a period of mounting scrutiny.#italy_soccer_federation #gabriele_gravina #carlo_tavecchio #andrea_abodi #figc
