Gabriele Gravina has officially stepped down from his role as the head of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in the wake of the national team’s failure to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The administrative departure was triggered by an emergency summit following Italy’s heartbreaking elimination on Tuesday, where a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European qualifiers ended their hopes of reaching the global tournament.
In a high-level assembly held today, Gravina formally communicated his decision to the primary stakeholders of Italian football, including leadership from Lega Serie A, Serie B, and Lega Pro, alongside representatives from the various players’ and coaches’ unions. His exit marks the conclusion of a relatively brief tenure, as he originally assumed the presidency in February 2025.
The federation must now pivot toward a transition of leadership during a period of significant sporting disappointment. It has been confirmed that the electoral process to determine Gravina’s successor is scheduled to take place on June 22. Until then, the Italian footballing landscape remains in a state of flux as the nation reflects on its second consecutive absence from the world’s most prestigious football competition.
