Italy's soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina resigned Thursday following the national team's failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. The decision came two days after Italy lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff, ending their hopes of reaching the 2026 tournament in North America. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi had called for leadership changes, stating Italian soccer needs a complete overhaul.

Gianluigi Buffon, the legendary goalkeeper and national team delegation chief, also stepped down, citing the need to give his successor freedom in choosing replacements. Buffon, who holds the record for 176 appearances for Italy, was part of the 2006 World Cup-winning team. His departure follows the recent hiring of coach Gennaro Gattuso, who now faces likely dismissal as part of the leadership purge.

Italy's World Cup struggles extend back to 2010 and 2014 when they failed to advance from group stages. The Azzurri were eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia in the previous two qualifying playoffs. An election for a new FIGC president has been called for June 22, with the incoming leader tasked with revitalizing the national team and preparing Italy's stadiums for the 2032 European Championship co-hosted with Turkey.