Italy latest – Gravina resigns, Gattuso likely to follow: live reactions and updates | OneFootball

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Italy have missed out on the World Cup for the third consecutive time, losing on penalties against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off Final on Tuesday: here are all live updates and reactions the aftermath of the match.

It was another incredibly frustrating night for Italy as the Azzurri faced a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off Final, failing to qualify for the tournament for the third time in a row.

Needless to say, the latest Azzurri fiasco dominates headlines in Italian media over the past two days, both sports and political.

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis was among the first to react to the Azzurri’s elimination, calling for drastic changes to Serie A, including reducing the number of teams from 20 to 16.

Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi said, “Football must be rebuilt,” and hoped for a change in FIGC leadership.

Meanwhile, Gabriele Gravina has now officially stepped down from his role as FIGC President.

Follow today’s live updates and reactions on the liveblog and join the conversation in the comments section.

Report: Gattuso expected to follow Gravina in resignation

Multiple outlets are reporting that Gennaro Gattuso will step down from his position as head coach of the Italy national team and that Gianluigi Buffon will also depart following the failure to reach the World Cup for the third tournament cycle in a row.

Click here to read the full story.

2026-04-02 14:15:21

BREAKING: GRAVINA RESIGNS AS FIGC PRESIDENT

Gabriele Gravina has officially resigned from his position as President of the FIGC following Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third tournament cycle in a row.

Click here to read the full story.

ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: (L-R) President of CONI Luciano Buonfiglio, President of FIGC Gabriele Gravina and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin look on prior the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

2026-04-02 14:14:38

Moggi: 'The fish rots from the head'

Former Juventus & Napoli executive Luciano Moggi has described Italian football as a ‘fish that rots from the head’, as he joined the growing calls for FIGC president Gabriele Gravina to step down following Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Click here to read the full story.

2026-04-01 20:32:02

Zola: 'We must understand the importance of our young players'

Former Italy star Gianfranco Zola has said Italy must learn to ‘understand our young players’ and must ‘build from the ground up’ to restore the nation’s presence on the world stage.

Click here for the full story.

2026-04-01 19:58:57

How old the Italy squad will be at the next World Cup?

2026-04-01 19:42:25

Senate president La Russa: 'Gattuso ideal, I'd want Mourinho to replace him'

Italian Senate president Ignazio La Russa has described Rino Gattuso as the ‘ideal’ head coach ‘for this Italy’, whilst dreaming of Mourinho as his number dream coach if Gattuso steps down.

“Who would I want if Gattuso were to resign? Mourinho. But it can’t be because he wants more money and isn’t satisfied. Mancini was also good. But for this national team, Gattuso is ideal. I don’t know if that’s a compliment, but it’s a consideration. Let’s make some profound changes and let every team field at least four Italians for every minute of the match.”

2026-04-01 19:37:43

Locatelli: 'We failed, that is the reality.'

Juventus & Italy midfielder Manuel Locatelli has been the next Azzurri star to break his silence after the nation’s World Cup play-off defeat to Bosnia.

He described himself as ‘devastated, drained, with tears in my eyes’ in an emotional Instagram post.

Read his full translated statement here.

2026-04-01 19:24:39

Viviano: 'If I were Gravina, I would emigrate'

Former Italy goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano was scathing in his criticism of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina, stating ‘If I were him, I’d emigrate’ as he criticised the country’s approach towards youth development.

Click here for the full story.

2026-04-01 18:59:03

2026-04-01 18:35:54

Former Milan CEO Galliani: 'Football is full of ups and downs'

Former Milan CEO Adriano Galliani: “Let’s not start with the deep end. I feel a bit of sadness, of course, like all Italians. Last night I was in a restaurant full of flags, think about it, the first match I saw with a national team was Switzerland-Italy 4-1 in the 1954 World Cup.

“In these seventy-plus years I’ve had so many joys, we’ve won two more World Cups after those of the 1930s, and reached many finals. Football and sport are like that, made up of ups and downs. Unfortunately, it was a very sad Tuesday.”

Quotes via MilanNews.

2026-04-01 18:28:30

Baresi: 'Gattuso amongst least responsible'

Italy & Milan legend Franco Baresi has claimed Italian football needs to do a ‘mea culpa’ but suggested that Gennaro Gattuso is amongst the ‘least responsible’ for the defeat, having given his everything to the nation during his time as CT.

Read the full story here.

2026-04-01 18:15:11

Sources claim reports of Lotito petition 'baseless'

Sources close to Forza Italia, via LaLazioSiamoNoi, have claimed there is no substance to the reports that Claudio Lotito had launched a petition in the Senate calling for Gravina’s resignation.

2026-04-01 17:52:35

Capello: 'A disgrace'

Former Milan and Real Madrid head coach Fabio Capello has called Italy’s World Cup play-off exit ‘a sporting tragedy, a disgrace’ and has questioned why ‘nobody is resigning’ yet after what he describes as ‘one of the worst things to happen in recent Italian football history.’

Click here to read his full comments.

2026-04-01 17:46:48

Lazio president Lotito starts Senate petition for Gravina resignation

Lazio president Claudio Lotito has launched a petition within the Italian senate, calling for the immediate resignation of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina.

Click here to read the full story.

2026-04-01 17:20:11

Borini: 'The issue is above Gattuso's position'

2026-04-01 17:08:07

Italy must once again rebuild after another World Cup play-off elimination, and Gazzetta names the players expected to retain their spots in the team, those who could return, and others who won’t play for the national team again.

What happens now? Click here to find out.

2026-04-01 16:11:35

Even Russell Crowe is dejected: ” A dark dawn for Italy. The day after failing to qualify. Again. How is it possible with so much talent? I feel bad on behalf of the nation.”

2026-04-01 15:36:30

Argentina coach Scaloni

“I have Italian relatives, and what is happening in Italy saddens me. It is a brother country to Argentina that cares deeply for its national team, and we are a world power, so the fact that they are not present does not sit well with us Argentines. It is sad because of how it happened, in an unfair way; it is a hard truth to accept.”

(via press conference)

2026-04-01 15:20:04

Donnarumma breaks silence

“Last night, after the match, I cried,” wrote the Italy captain.

“I cried with disappointment at not being able to take Italy to where it deserves to be. I cried because of the immense sadness I’m feeling together with the entire Azzurri squad of which I am proud to be captain, and which, I know, at this moment, you too are feeling, supporters of our national team.”

Click here for the full quotes.

2026-04-01 14:43:08

The headquarters of the Italian Football Federation in Rome was vandalised with eggs thrown last night, according to various sources.

Full story.

2026-04-01 14:21:56

The debate over the state of Italian football is intensifying and, sadly, it echoes analysis from 2018 and 2022. However, beyond long-standing concerns, recent short-term decisions have not paid off and should lead to the resignation of those responsible.

READ THE FULL ANALYSIS HERE

ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy shows his dejection after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

1st Apr 2026, 14:13

1st Apr 2026, 12:25

1st Apr 2026, 12:25

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