Federation president resigns following historic collapse, Buffon follows with emotional farewell: “We didn’t achieve our goal”
Italian football enters a new era.
Gabriele Gravina has officially resigned as president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), just 36 hours after Italy’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup playoffs.
Shortly after, Gianluigi Buffon also stepped down from his role as head of delegation, marking a complete leadership reset at the top of the Azzurri structure.
Gravina steps down
In an official statement, Gravina confirmed his resignation and announced early elections to choose new leadership.
An extraordinary FIGC assembly will be held on June 22 in Rome, with candidates required to submit their applications by mid-May.
Gravina also addressed the controversy surrounding his recent comments comparing football to other sports.
“My words were misunderstood,” he said. “They were never meant to offend any discipline, but to highlight different structures and regulations between professional and amateur systems.”
Buffon follows: “It was the right thing to do”
Buffon’s resignation came with a deeply emotional message.
“Stepping down right after the match felt natural,” he wrote. “Like the tears and the pain we all felt.”
Despite highlighting the work done behind the scenes—especially in rebuilding team spirit and long-term development—Buffon acknowledged the ultimate failure.
“The main goal was to bring Italy back to the World Cup. We didn’t succeed,” he said.
“For that reason, it’s right to leave space for those who come next.”
A project unfinished
Buffon also revealed that efforts had been made to modernize the national team structure, focusing on youth development and stronger connections between different levels of Italian football.
“I believed in a system based on merit and specialization,” he explained. “We started something important.”
But with the World Cup objective missed, continuity is no longer guaranteed.
What happens next?
Italy now faces a period of uncertainty and transition:
- A new FIGC president will be elected in June
- The future of Gennaro Gattuso remains unclear
- Structural reforms are expected to dominate the agenda
Meanwhile, the national team will continue its schedule, with summer friendlies already planned despite the absence from the World Cup.
A delicate moment
The resignations of Gravina and Buffon underline the scale of the crisis.
This is no longer just about one defeat.
It’s about rebuilding Italian football from the top down.
