FIGC

The FIGC (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio) is Italy's governing body for football, responsible for the national team, professional leagues and grassroots development. Founded in 1898, it is one of Europe's oldest football federations. On 31 March 2026, Italy's 4-1 penalty defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed a third consecutive World Cup absence under FIGC's watch, a record unmatched by any former world champion. President Gabriele Gravina refused to resign despite immediate demands from Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, senator Claudio Lotito and the Lega Calcio.

The structural criticism centres on squad preparation time. Gennaro Gattuso had fewer than 15 training sessions across ten months before the Bosnia defeat. This is not a problem unique to one manager: the same pattern afflicted previous coaches. Critics argue FIGC has failed to negotiate adequate international windows with Serie A clubs, leaving national managers unable to build coherent systems regardless of the talent available.

Italy have now missed the World Cup entirely since 2014 Brazil, a 16-year absence that will stretch to at least 2030. A board meeting scheduled for the week after the Bosnia defeat will determine whether Gravina remains in post. The federation's statutory independence from government interference is being tested by the scale of political pressure; FIFA regulations prohibit direct government control of member federations, adding legal complexity to an already combustible situation.