Italian Football Federation Gets a Fresh Start
Big changes are underway at the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), and it all started with the resignation of president Gabriele Gravina. The decision to step down came after Italy's heartbreaking loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off final, marking a third consecutive tournament cycle without qualification. Gravina led the federation since October 2018, a tenure that included Italy's exciting Euro 2020 win, but was also marred by repeated World Cup disappointments – including the 2022 and 2026 editions.
An emergency meeting of the FIGC general council, attended by some of Italy's most influential figures in football, including Serie A and amateur league presidents, confirmed Gravina's resignation. The council has scheduled an election for June 22 to choose his successor. During his time in charge, Gravina appointed two national team head coaches: Luciano Spalletti in 2023 and Gennaro Gattuso in 2025.
The pressure had been mounting from fans and officials alike after Italy's latest qualification failure, and the sentiment was echoed by the Minister for Sport, Andrea Abodi. In a statement, Abodi emphasized the need for Italian football to be rebuilt, starting with a leadership change at the FIGC. Now that Gravina has stepped down, the spotlight is on potential successors, with names like former CONI president Giovanni Malago, Giancarlo Abete, and
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