Common Questions

What is AIC in Italian football?: AIC (Associazione Italiana Calciatori) is Italy's professional footballers' union. It controls 20% of FIGC Federal Council votes and forms part of the critical 30% swing bloc alongside AIAC (coaches) in the June 2026 presidential election.
Why is AIC important in the 2026 FIGC presidential election?: AIC controls 20% of FIGC votes and, together with AIAC (10%), forms a 30% swing bloc that is arithmetically decisive. Both Giovanni Malagò and Giancarlo Abete held meetings with AIC in April 2026 to secure its backing before the 22 June vote.Source: ANSA
Who are the candidates in the 2026 FIGC presidential election?: The two main candidates are Giovanni Malagò, backed by Serie A's 18% bloc, and Giancarlo Abete, backed by the Lega Dilettanti's 34% plus Lega Pro. The AIC and AIAC swing blocs (30% combined) will determine the winner. Declarations close 13 May; the Federal Council votes 22 June.Source: ANSA
Did AIC endorse Malagò or Abete for FIGC president?: As of 19 April 2026, AIC had not formally endorsed either candidate. Malagò described his mid-April meetings with AIC as 'very positive'; Abete was holding his own meetings with AIC and AIAC the same week, per ANSA.Source: ANSA
Who has AIC endorsed for FIGC president?: AIC endorsed Giovanni Malagò, contributing their 20% bloc to his confirmed 48% ahead of the 22 June 2026 election. AIC and AIAC together form a 30% swing bloc.Source: Lowdown
How does the AIC vote affect the FIGC election outcome?: AIC's 20% combined with AIAC's 10% gives Malagò his arithmetic foundation. Without them, his Serie A 18% alone cannot win. With them confirmed at 48%, he needs only Lega B (6%) or Lega Pro (12%) to secure a majority.Source: Lowdown
What does AIAC stand for in Italian football?: AIAC stands for Associazione Italiana Allenatori Calcio — Italy's football coaches' association. It controls 10% of FIGC votes and forms the 30% swing bloc together with AIC (players). Both endorsed Malagò.

Background

AIC (Associazione Italiana Calciatori) is Italy's professional footballers' union, representing players across all professional divisions. It controls 20% of the votes in the FIGC presidential election scheduled for 22 June 2026, making it one half of the critical 30% swing bloc alongside AIAC (coaches). Both Giovanni Malagò and Giancarlo Abete held meetings with AIC in mid-April 2026 to seek its backing; Malagò described outcomes as 'very positive'.

AIC's significance is purely arithmetical: if it aligns with Malagò, his Serie A Coalition can reach a winning plurality; if it backs Abete, the grassroots-led candidate could overcome Serie A's professional weight. The AIC has historically positioned itself as a player welfare organisation, but its presidential vote is a function of electoral interest, not player welfare directly.

By 11 May 2026, AIC had formally endorsed Malagò — its 20% bloc is part of Malagò's confirmed 48%. Combined with AIAC's 10%, the player and coach blocs committed early, giving Malagò his arithmetic foundation.

How the World Sees Them

FIFA

there is no Plan B, because there is no replacement squad

Brazil

No regrets taking injured Neymar.

Mexico

Let's see how things develop with the teachers.

South Africa

The performance was not what I expected.

Norwegian Football Federation

We are sending this letter alone.

Canada Soccer

day-by-day

Thomas Tuchel / England

A lot of our players last played together in November. We had four training sessions together, then mixed the team up.

UNITE HERE Local 11

Local 11 has widened its dispute with FIFA from the original Immigration and Customs Enforcement carve-out to four explicit demands, filed an NLRB charge and a California AG complaint naming FIFA as co-respondent on Friday 8 May, and rallied with gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer on Tuesday 19 May. The union's framing is that FIFA's silence is now the headline.

Mauricio Pochettino / USMNT

I got a little annoyed... Chris Richards is an important player.