Italy’s football governing body, the FIGC, is doing something that most organizations in crisis struggle with: admitting the problem is big enough to need a Plan B. And a Plan C. Giovanni Malagò, the anticipated new president of the Italian Football Federation, has outlined three separate contingency plans for appointing a new head coach and technical director after Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
It’s the third consecutive World Cup that the Azzurri will miss. For a country that has won the tournament four times, that’s roughly equivalent to Bitcoin dropping to triple digits. Theoretically possible, historically shocking, and deeply uncomfortable for everyone involved.
The collapse and the cleanup
Here’s what happened. Italy’s World Cup dreams ended after a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in the March 2026 playoffs. The fallout was swift and brutal.
Gennaro Gattuso, who took over as coach in June 2025, resigned on April 3, 2026. His tenure was brief and, by any measure, unsuccessful. Gianluigi Buffon, serving as delegation head, also stepped down. Outgoing president Gabriele Gravina was already on his way out the door.
