Gianluigi Buffon has stepped down from his role as head of delegation with the Italy national team after the country failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The decision followed Italy’s playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the Azzurri drew 1-1 and then lost 4-1 on penalties. The setback means Italy will miss a third straight World Cup after also failing to reach the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
Buffon’s exit landed inside a wider collapse around the national setup. Earlier FIGC president Gabriele Gravina also resigned after the World Cup failure, with pressure growing from politicians, media and the wider football public. That means Italy’s latest failure has not only cost it a place at the tournament, but has also forced major changes at the top of the game.
A World Cup drought that keeps getting worse
For Italy, this is no ordinary football slump. The country won the World Cup in 2006, yet has now gone three straight editions without qualifying for the finals. Reuters described it as a historic low for one of football’s traditional powers, while the loss to Bosnia deepened a crisis that has already stretched across more than a decade.
Why Buffon’s resignation matters
Buffon is not just another official leaving the setup. He remains one of the biggest figures in Italian football and was part of the team that won the World Cup in Germany in 2006. His resignation turns this from a normal post-defeat adjustment into a symbolic break with one of the most recognisable faces of the modern Azzurri era. Reuters said Buffon cited the failure to reach the World Cup as the main reason for stepping aside.
What comes next for Italy
The fallout is still moving. Head coach Gennaro Gattuso also left his role after the failed qualification campaign, showing how fast the rebuild is now accelerating. Italy will have to replace key leadership figures, repair public trust and find a new direction before its next competitive cycle begins.
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