Italy's National Football Team Manager Gattuso Resigns After Failing to Qualify for 2026 World Cup

Apr 4, 2026

Gennaro Gattuso resigned as Italy's national football team manager after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, losing 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina in a play-off on March 31, 2026. The failure marks Italy's third consecutive World Cup absence since last appearing in 2014, an unprecedented streak for any previous World Cup champion. Gattuso, who won the 2006 World Cup as a player and was appointed in June 2025, won six of eight games but mutually agreed to terminate his contract. The crisis prompted additional resignations including FIGC head Gabriele Gravina and delegation head Gianluigi Buffon, with potential successors including Massimiliano Allegri, Roberto Mancini, and Antonio Conte being discussed to revive the four-time World Cup champions.

Gattuso's resignation following Italy's World Cup qualification failure

▪Italy was beaten 4-1 on penalties by Bosnia-Herzegovina in a World Cup play-off match on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
▪Gennaro Gattuso won the World Cup when playing for Italy in 2006.
▪Gennaro Gattuso and Italy agreed to mutually terminate Gennaro Gattuso's contract as Italy's national football team manager after Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
▪Gennaro Gattuso was appointed as Italy's national football team manager in June 2025 as Luciano Spalletti's successor.
▪Gennaro Gattuso won 73 caps for Italy during Gennaro Gattuso's playing career.
▪Gabriele Gravina resigned as the head of Italy's football association FIGC on Thursday, 2 April 2026.

Italy's unprecedented third consecutive World Cup absence

▪Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, marking Italy's third consecutive World Cup absence.

Potential candidates to replace Gattuso as manager

▪Fabio Cannavaro was captain of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning team.
▪Roberto Mancini led Italy to Euro 2020 glory, beating England in the final.
▪Fabio Cannavaro will lead Uzbekistan into their first World Cup in summer 2026.
▪Antonio Conte took Italy to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals as Italy's national team manager.
▪Massimiliano Allegri returned for a second spell as AC Milan boss in May 2025.
▪Roberto Mancini is in charge of Qatari side Al-Sadd as of April 2026.