Gabriele Gravina has resigned as president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) following Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His resignation was confirmed by the federation on Thursday, April 2, 2026, after a meeting of the FIGC's federal council.
Italy, the reigning European champion, lost a crucial playoff match against Sweden on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, ending their hopes of reaching the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This marks the second consecutive World Cup the Azzurri have missed, having also failed to qualify for the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Gravina, who had been in charge since 2018, faced significant political pressure to step down in the wake of the national team's latest setback. In a statement, he cited the need for a new direction to allow Italian football to rebuild. The FIGC has announced that Vice-President Giancarlo Abete will assume the role of interim president until a new election can be organized.
