Federica Cappelletti, president of the Women’s Serie A Division of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and wife of legendary soccer player Paolo Rossi, passionately honors her husband’s legacy through an exhibition soon to cross national borders, while actively working to develop and strengthen Italian women’s soccer, recently recognized as professional.
What does it mean to you, as Paolo Rossi’s wife, to keep his memory alive through an international exhibition traveling around the world?
“Carrying forward Paolo’s name is a duty, as well as a pleasure and personal pride, given what he contributed to Italy and the Italian people. It’s crucial to continue celebrating his values, virtues, resilience, and his ability to achieve great goals, not only in Italy but internationally. I’m touched by reviving those extraordinary moments for Italians who still dream when recalling the 1982 World Cup, remembering him fondly. Therefore, it’s wonderful to share Paolo’s memory through the exhibition titled ‘Paolo Rossi, il ragazzo d’oro’ (Paolo Rossi, the Golden Boy).”
The 1982 World Cup remains vividly in the memory of Italians, perhaps even more so than the 2006 victory.
“Without diminishing the significance of 2006, the 1982 victory had a different meaning because it symbolized Italy’s true rebirth. Those were challenging years marked by terrorism, the tragedy of Aldo Moro, and a country emerging from hardship. That victory became a symbol of national renewal, continuously passed down to younger generations who, through the media, continue learning about Paolo and the heroes of Bearzot’s remarkable achievement.”
The exhibition will also come to New York in May 2025. What significance does bringing Paolo Rossi’s legacy there hold?
“It will be an incredibly emotional milestone. Bringing this exhibition to New York, home to one of the largest Italian communities in the U.S., will be truly special. Celebrating Paolo and his values in such an iconic city will be symbolically significant, almost like winning the Ballon d’Or again.”
This will be personally meaningful to you as well, won’t it?
“Absolutely. I love New York, and visiting with my daughters—Paolo’s daughters—to celebrate him in an extraordinary context like the Big Apple, an international symbol and heartbeat for many Italian communities, will deepen the emotion.”
Speaking about your institutional role, the American stage will also provide an opportunity to engage with U.S. women’s soccer.
“Certainly. It will be a great chance to closely observe American women’s soccer, which has truly pioneered the entire women’s soccer movement. In the U.S., women’s soccer has achieved levels of acceptance and popularity even exceeding men’s soccer, making it a role model for us to follow and aspire to here in Italy.”
From your perspective as President of the Women’s Serie A Division, how has the women’s soccer movement evolved since officially turning professional in 2022?
“The transition to professionalism was, above all, a fundamental cultural turning point. What was once just a dream for many girls has now become a genuine career. Naturally, we now face new challenges, such as economic sustainability—a central issue we are actively addressing. The government recently renewed funding for the Women’s Professional Sports Fund, and we hope this leads to mutual support within the system, allowing women’s soccer to take another significant step forward. Our goal is to create a sustainable framework to support the continued growth of women’s soccer, aiming to fill stadiums—a challenge less prominent in countries like the U.S. or England, but one we are addressing with promising results. The increasing media visibility thanks to broadcasters like Rai, Sky, and DAZN demonstrates that the perception, acceptance, and image of women’s soccer are positively evolving.”
