Italy's hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup ended in a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday, marking the nation's third consecutive failure to qualify for the tournament. According to multiple reports, the four-time world champions lost 4-1 on penalties after a match that saw Italy take an early lead through Moise Kean before defender Alessandro Bastoni's red card shifted momentum. This playoff final defeat means no previous World Cup winner has ever missed three consecutive tournaments, a dubious distinction Italy now holds after previously failing to qualify for the 2018 Russia and 2022 Qatar editions. The loss represents a profound setback for Italian football, which had won the European Championship in 2021 but now faces systemic questions about its international competitiveness.
National team coach Gennaro Gattuso will not continue after failing to lead the Azzurri to the football World Cup, according to major media reports. The Italian Football Federation announced the departure in its media channels, stating in a press release that the parties have agreed to terminate the employment relationship. Before resigning, federation president Gabriele Gravina told reporters he had asked Gattuso to stay despite missing out on the World Cup, indicating initial confidence in the coach's leadership. Gattuso expressed his departure in an official statement, saying he considered his period as national team coach over since they did not reach their goal, and thanked players and supporters.
With sorrow in my heart, since we did not reach the goal we had set ourselves, I consider my period as national team coach to be over.
Football president Gabriele Gravina resigned on Thursday afternoon after the debacle, stepping down after the nation missed its third consecutive football World Cup. According to news agencies AP and Reuters, as well as the newspaper Gazetta dello Sport citing a press release from the Italian Football Federation, the 72-year-old Uefa first vice-president announced his resignation following a meeting at the FIGC's headquarters in Rome. Gravina had been in the role since October 2018, taking over after his predecessor Carlo Tavecchio stepped down following Italy's failure to beat Sweden in a World Cup play-off the previous year. During his tenure, Italy won Euro 2020 by beating England in a penalty shootout at Wembley Stadium, but the country's football federation is now under scrutiny following the failure to qualify for this summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Gravina oversaw the appointments of former head coach Luciano Spalletti and current boss Gennaro Gattuso, making his departure a significant leadership change.
In addition to Gravina's resignation, former goalkeeper giant Gianluigi Buffon is stepping down from the position of delegation leader. Buffon explained his decision in a press release, stating that now that president Gravina had chosen to step back, he felt free to take what he believed was a responsible decision since they did not succeed in leading Italy to the World Cup. The FIGC said in a statement that a vote to elect a new president will be held on 22 June, with multiple candidates emerging as potential successors. Among the leading candidates to take over is Giovanni Malago, the former head of the Italian Olympic Committee who was also president of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics organisation committee. According to reports, Paolo Maldini could also become the new president of the Italian Football Federation, though no definitive successor has been confirmed.
It has been an honor to lead the national team, and to do so with a group of players who have shown effort and attachment to the jersey. But the biggest thanks go to the supporters, to all Italians who in these months have never let their love and support for the national team be lacking.
Political pressure has intensified following Italy's World Cup failure, with sports minister Andrea Abodi calling for changes in the country's football leadership after Gravina was responsible for two disappointing World Cup qualifications. Lazio president Claudio Lotito has started a petition in the senate for Gravina's removal, according to Tuttomercatoweb, with the 68-year-old club owner and senator reportedly seeking formal action against the federation chairman. Previously, Gravina had been urged to leave his post by the Italian sports minister, creating a contentious atmosphere around his leadership. According to Football Italia, the chairman himself had no plans to listen to the top officials, suggesting initial resistance to resignation calls. The same outlet reported that Gravina called a meeting on Thursday with representatives from Serie A, Serie B, Serie C as well as the players' and coaches' union to secure their support, indicating efforts to consolidate his position before ultimately stepping down.
Fan reaction to the World Cup qualification failure turned destructive, with the federation's headquarters vandalized after the loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to reports, angry supporters threw eggs at the building, expressing frustration over Italy's continued international struggles. This vandalism reflects broader discontent within Italian football, where expectations remain high despite recent tournament failures. The incident occurred amid what multiple reports describe as a high-tone aftermath, though the national team and its coach Gennaro Gattuso have escaped the worst criticism, which has instead been directed at Gabriele Gravina as chairman of the country's football federation.
Unfortunately, I will not play in the Masters tournament next week and will be away for a longer period while my family continues to handle a personal health problem.
In unrelated sports news, golfer Phil Mickelson confirmed on Thursday that he will not participate in The Masters due to a family health problem, marking the first time since 1994 that neither he nor Tiger Woods will start in the tournament at Augusta. The 55-year-old has won six major tournaments and is a three-time Masters champion, with victories in 2004, 2006, and 2010, and a second-place finish as recently as 2023 when Spaniard Jon Rahm came out on top. Apart from 2022, Mickelson has participated every year since 1995, with his absence this year coinciding with Woods' continued recovery from health issues. Mickelson explained his withdrawal in a social media statement, saying he would not play in the Masters tournament next week and would be away for a longer period while his family continues to handle a personal health problem.
Tiger Woods will also miss The Masters this year, making it the first time since 1994 that neither of the golf veterans will start in the tournament. Woods was involved in a new car accident last week and will spend the next period taking care of his health, continuing a pattern of injuries that has limited his tournament appearances in recent years. The absence of both legendary golfers creates a significant shift in the tournament's dynamics, removing two of the sport's most recognizable figures from competition. This development follows Woods' return in 2022 after suffering a serious leg injury in a car accident in 2021, highlighting the physical challenges both players now face in their careers.
Now that president Gravina has chosen to step back, I feel free to take what I believe is a responsible decision. The main goal was to lead Italy to the World Cup, and we did not succeed.
Romanian coaching veteran Mircea Lucescu is stepping down as head of Romania's men's football team after falling ill before the recent national match against Slovakia, according to major media reports. The Romanian Football Federation announced this on Maundy Thursday on its own website, praising the 80-year-old Lucescu for leading the team to the playoff in World Cup qualification, where they were stopped in the semi-final against Turkey last week. On Sunday, three days after the Turkey match, Lucescu collapsed on the training field, receiving first aid on the spot before being taken to hospital. At the hospital in Bucharest, he was treated for a serious cardiac arrhythmia, writes the news agency DPA, though the exact nature and prognosis of his condition remain unclear.
The context of Italy's World Cup failure reveals a pattern of decline, with this being the third time in a row that Italy does not participate in the football World Cup. No previous winner of the tournament has missed three World Cups in a row, which Italy now have after missing out on Russia in 2018 and Qatar 2022. This unprecedented streak comes despite Italy's Euro 2020 victory under Gravina's tenure, creating a paradox of European success coupled with World Cup failure. The country's football federation is under scrutiny following the failure to qualify for this summer's World Cup, with systemic issues likely requiring comprehensive reform beyond mere leadership changes.
Implications for Italian football's future are substantial, with sports minister Andrea Abodi calling for changes in leadership and the federation facing intense scrutiny. The FIGC has scheduled a vote to elect a new president on 22 June, with candidates including Giovanni Malago and potentially Paolo Maldini according to reports. Gabriele Gravina's departure creates uncertainty about the federation's direction, particularly regarding how it will address the structural problems that have led to three consecutive World Cup qualifications. The specific changes to be implemented in Italian football leadership following this failure remain undefined, leaving open questions about reform priorities and implementation timelines.
Unknowns persist regarding Phil Mickelson's family health issue, with the golfer citing a personal health problem but providing no specific details about its nature or severity. Similarly, the exact nature and prognosis of Mircea Lucescu's cardiac arrhythmia have not been fully disclosed, though he received hospital treatment for the condition. The succession plan for Gabriele Gravina's presidency remains unclear, with multiple candidates mentioned but no definitive successor confirmed ahead of the June election. Claudio Lotito's petition in the senate involves uncertain legal and procedural steps, with its likelihood of success dependent on political support that has not been quantified.
Further unknowns surround the specific changes that will be implemented in Italian football leadership following the World Cup qualification failure, as calls for reform have not yet produced concrete proposals. The petition initiated by Claudio Lotito represents a political dimension to the crisis, but its potential impact on federation governance remains speculative without details about senate procedures and support levels. These uncertainties compound the challenges facing Italian football as it seeks to rebuild after a historic period of international disappointment, with leadership transitions occurring amid broader questions about the sport's direction in the country.