Italy demands football overhaul after World Cup qualification collapse

Italian politicians, fans, and sports officials are calling for sweeping reforms in the country’s football administration after the national team suffered another shock failure to qualify for the men’s World Cup.

The crisis deepened after the Italian national football team lost a dramatic play-off match against the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team in a penalty shootout following a 1–1 draw, extending Italy’s absence from the tournament.

The defeat means the four-time world champions have now missed three consecutive World Cups, having also failed to qualify in 2018 and 2022, sparking widespread anger across the country.

Political backlash and calls for leadership resignation

The fallout has reached Italy’s political arena, with members of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition joining opposition voices in demanding the resignation of football federation president Gabriele Gravina.

Sports minister and lawmakers described the result as a national embarrassment, calling for a “complete rebuild” of Italian football governance.

Some politicians also pushed for structural reforms, including tighter restrictions on foreign players in domestic leagues, arguing that Italy’s talent pipeline is being weakened.

The latest failure adds to a long-running decline for the once-dominant football nation, which has not reached the World Cup knockout stages since its 2006 triumph.

Head coach Gennaro Gattuso described the defeat as “a blow that is difficult to digest,” reflecting the emotional toll on players and fans alike.

Fans sue FIFA over soaring World Cup ticket prices

Football federation chief Gravina has resisted calls to step down but acknowledged that Italian football is facing a “profound crisis.”

Structural decline and calls for reform

Beyond the immediate disappointment, analysts point to deeper structural issues in Italian football, including underinvestment in infrastructure, declining league revenues, and reduced global competitiveness of Serie A.

Clubs such as Inter Milan, AC Milan, and AS Roma have attracted foreign investment in recent years, but experts say broader systemic reform has lagged.

A previously proposed modernisation plan by Italian football legend Roberto Baggio was cited as an example of missed reform opportunities after funding was never fully implemented.

As anger grows, Italy now faces renewed pressure to overhaul its football system or risk further decline on the international stage.