Italy’s Soccer System Under Scrutiny After Three‑Year World Cup Gap

The Italian sports minister urged the head of the national football federation to step down after Italy failed again to qualify for a World Cup. A penalty shoot‑out defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoff stage was the latest blow, following losses to Sweden in 2018 and North Macedonia in 2022. The minister said the country’s football must be reorganised, starting with new leadership at the federation. The federation president has survived a similar elimination in 2022 and said he would reflect on the situation next week, hinting at a possible election for his role. He also noted many factors need evaluation before deciding on future leadership. The national team coach, Gennaro Gattuso, has not commented on his future after the loss.He expressed that talking about his job now would be premature and “too immature. ” Gattuso’s contract runs through the end of next summer’s World Cup, with an automatic extension to 2028 if Italy qualifies. Despite uncertainty about his stay, the federation’s president publicly praised him and encouraged him to remain in charge. Italian club football has also struggled, with the last Champions League title won by Inter Milan in 2010 and all four Italian clubs ousted before the quarter‑finals this season. Former prime minister Matteo Renzi warned that repeated failures to reach the World Cup signal a deeper problem in Italian football, which is more than just sport but a key part of national identity. The report was contributed to by the Associated Press.