{"id":46739,"date":"2026-04-02T12:03:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T06:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/sports\/?p=46739"},"modified":"2026-04-02T12:03:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T06:33:02","slug":"gennaro-gattuso-to-exit-as-italy-coach-after-historic-third-world-cup-miss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/sports\/football\/gennaro-gattuso-to-exit-as-italy-coach-after-historic-third-world-cup-miss\/","title":{"rendered":"Gennaro Gattuso to exit as Italy coach after historic third World Cup miss"},"content":{"rendered":"

Italy\u2019s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has plunged Italian football into crisis,<\/strong> with head coach Gennaro Gattuso now expected to leave<\/strong> his position as Azzurri manager.<\/p>\n

The four-time World Cup winners suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to 66th-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina in the qualifying playoffs on Tuesday, confirming their third successive absence from football\u2019s biggest tournament.<\/p>\n

Italy Crashes Out in Playoffs Yet Again<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gattuso, who took over from Luciano Spalletti last year, could not guide Italy to the 2026 World Cup in North America. The loss to Bosnia extends a painful trend: Italy were also eliminated by Sweden in 2018 and North Macedonia in 2022.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not interested at all in talking about my future today,\u201d Gattuso said immediately after the match. \u201cIt hurts, it really hurts. More than hurting me, it hurts to see this group which has really given everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite his emotional plea, sources indicate that Gattuso\u2019s time as Italy coach is coming to an end. His contract, which included an automatic extension until 2028 if Italy qualified, will now be terminated.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sports Minister Calls for FIGC President Gabriele Gravina to Resign<\/strong><\/p>\n

The fallout has gone far beyond the pitch. Italy\u2019s Sports Minister Andrea Abodi has demanded major changes at the top, urging FIGC president Gabriele Gravina to resign.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s evident to everyone that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled, and that process needs to start with new leadership at the FIGC,\u201d Abodi stated.<\/p>\n

Gravina, who survived the 2022 qualifying failure, said he would reflect deeply on the situation next week and did not rule out calling fresh elections for the federation presidency.<\/p>\n

Mixed Messages Over Gattuso\u2019s Future<\/strong><\/p>\n

While pressure mounts on Gattuso to depart, Gravina publicly praised the coach on Tuesday:<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to praise Gattuso. I think he\u2019s been a great coach, he is a great coach. I\u2019ve asked him to stay on in charge of these players.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, with public anger growing and the World Cup door now closed, Gattuso is widely expected to step down in the coming<\/p>\n

Italy\u2019s three consecutive World Cup misses represent an unprecedented low for one of football\u2019s most successful nations. The Azzurri have won the tournament four times (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), yet they will sit out the 2026 edition alongside previous absences.<\/p>\n

Journalist Gabriele Marcotti noted: \u201cItaly have themselves to blame for third straight World Cup miss.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi added: \u201cUnfortunately the third consecutive elimination from the World Cup is not an April Fool\u2019s joke. It\u2019s a sign that Italian soccer has failed. Soccer isn\u2019t just entertainment in our country; it\u2019s part of our culture and national identity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The national team\u2019s struggles mirror deeper problems in the domestic game:<\/p>\n