Shortly after the federation confirmed Gravina’s departure, Buffon took to Instagram to announce he was stepping aside as the national team’s head of delegation. “Now that President Gravina has decided to step down, I feel free to perform what I consider a responsible act… The main objective was to lead Italy back to the World Cup. And we did not achieve it,” Buffon wrote in his farewell letter.

According to Italian insider Fabrizio Romano, Gattuso is expected to follow suit, despite initial indications from Gravina earlier this week that the federation wanted him to stay. The double resignation of the top brass has triggered a total restructuring of the Italian soccer hierarchy.

Who could replace Gattuso? Potential candidates emerging

While Gattuso’s departure has not been officially confirmed, Italian media outlets are already circulating names for a potential successor. Two high-profile former managers lead the shortlist:

• Roberto Mancini: The current Al Sadd manager led the Azzurri from 2018 to 2023. While his tenure included the disappointment of missing the 2022 World Cup after a loss to North Macedonia, he famously masterminded Italy’s second-ever UEFA Euro title in the 2020 edition (played in 2021).

• Antonio Conte: Currently at the helm of Napoli, Conte previously managed the national team from 2014 to 2016. Under his guidance, Italy reached the Euro 2016 quarterfinals, where they were narrowly eliminated by Germany in a penalty shootout.

Gattuso’s record with Italy

Gattuso took over as Italy’s head coach in June 2025, stepping in for Luciano Spalletti following a string of poor results during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. The legendary former AC Milan midfielder leaves behind a brief but statistically strong record.

In his eight World Cup Qualifying matches at the helm, Gattuso led the Azzurri to six wins, one loss, and one draw (1-1 vs Bosnia that led to the decisive penalty shootout defeat).

Despite what was a largely positive tenure on paper, the failure to meet the primary objective—securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup—has placed his future in doubt.

“Last night, after the match, I cried… Today, words serve little purpose, it’s true. But there is one thing I feel deeply and that I want to share with you: after such a great disappointment, we must find the courage to turn the page, once again. And for that, it takes a lot of strength, passion, and conviction. Always believing in it is the driving force to move forward…” Donnarumma wrote.

With this latest failure, Italy has set a grim record, missing the 2018, 2022, and 2026 editions. They are now the first former World Cup-winning nation in history to fail to qualify for three consecutive tournaments.

Fabio Capello blames Italian Football Federation

Legendary former manager Fabio Capello did not mince words when discussing the state of the national team. In a recent interview with MARCA, the former England and Real Madrid boss labeled the situation a sporting tragedy.

“We are talking about a four-time world champion; this is a sporting tragedy, a disgrace. It is the worst thing to happen to Italian soccer in recent history,” Capello stated.

While fans have criticized Gattuso and the players, Capello pointed the finger at the top. “No one resigns here, and that is what’s most worrying. The first person who should take responsibility is the federation president, along with the entire board of directors,” he asserted, calling for an urgent structural overhaul.

When was Italy’s last World Cup appearance?

After being crowned champions of the 2006 World Cup in Germany by defeating France on penalties, Italy made only two more appearances on the world stage: South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014, which remains their last participation to date.

However, those tournaments marked the beginning of a collapse for a national team that has lifted the trophy four times in its history. In 2010, as the defending champions, Italy put in a poor performance and were eliminated in the group stage. They repeated the same outcome in 2014, recording a single victory over England followed by two losses against Uruguay and Costa Rica.

“I’ve asked Gennaro Gattuso to stay and continue,” Italian Federation president Gabriele Gravina said after Italy’s heartbreaking loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, via Fabrizio Romano on X.

The coach also addressed the media after the game but didn’t talk about his future. Instead, Gattuso only lamented Italy’s World Cup exit, claiming the entire team was ‘hurt’ by the result.

When does Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy contract expire?

When Italy hired Gattuso as head coach in June 2025, The Guardian reported that he was signing a one-year contract, culminating in a potential 2026 World Cup participation.

With Italy once again watching the tournament from home, it remains to be seen whether Gattuso will remain on the touchline. The Italian Federation may have the intention to run things back, but will the coach be interested in doing so after this failure?

Gennaro Gattuso’s bold promise resurfaces as Italy misses 2026 World Cup

In October 2025, Gattuso went as far as promising that he would flee Italy if the national team missed the World Cup with him at the helm.

“I’ll take credit if I manage to achieve the goal, otherwise I’ll go and live far away from Italy,” Gattuso said in October 2025. “I’m already a bit far away [living in Marbella, Spain], I’ll go even farther. The consequence is that, I’m aware of it.”

Gattuso’s comments came after a 3-0 win over Israel. Back then, Italy were riding on a four-game winning streak and had secured a spot in the UEFA 2026 World Cup Qualifying playoffs.

Eventually, Italy fell short again, becoming the first World Cup-winning nation to miss three consecutive editions of the tournament.

Gattuso’s legacy in Italy

This is obviously a huge stain in Gattuso’s managerial career, though it doesn’t erase what he accomplished as a player with the national team. After all, he played a key role in Italy’s 2006 World Cup win.

That may explain why, even after an extremely disappointing result, the Italian Federation wants to give the Azzurri legend another chance.

“We did not deserve this. We show passion, we played with 10 men since minute 40… we are sad, but this is football,” the manager said via Fabrizio Romano on X. He also added: “I’m proud of my team. We are hurt.“

The Azzurri will be one of the big absentees in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The penalty shootout against Bosnia proved to be this team’s undoing. Even so, Italy told Gattuso they want him to stay as head coach.

Italy’s dream shattered

After securing a hard-fought victory against Northern Ireland to stay in contention, the Azzurri faced a tense showdown against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The match remained deadlocked at 1–1 after extra time, forcing a dramatic penalty shootout.

Unfortunately for Italy, they were unable to clinical from the spot, losing the shootout 4-1, and seeing their hopes for the tournament come to a sudden end.

Italy’s most recent World Cup appearance

The last time Italy participated in the World Cup was in 2014, where they were eliminated in the group stage. Following their failure to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 editions, their recent playoff defeat has officially left Italy out of third straight World Cup, a devastating blow for the four-time champions.

The result marks a staggering new low for the Italian side. This is the third consecutive cycle in which Italy have failed to reach the world’s biggest stage; remarkably, the powerhouse program hasn’t seen a World Cup knockout round since hoisting the trophy in 2006. For a nation of this stature, the drought has officially shifted from a slump to a crisis.

As the soccer world processes the upset, social media has pulled no punches. Here are the best memes and reactions to Italy’s stunning exit:

The Azzurri nightmare continues

The match was defined by early disaster, as the Azzurri were forced to play nearly 80 minutes with 10 men following a first-half red card. While the shorthanded squad fought to a stalemate through extra time, the luck ran out at the spot.

Yet, for a program that once defined clinical excellence, this latest exit felt hauntingly familiar rather than accidental.

The heartbreak in Sarajevo adds another grim chapter to a decade of Italian futility. In 2017, it was a -1-0 aggregate loss to Sweden that snapped a 60-year qualifying streak.

Four years later, a shocking stoppage-time goal by North Macedonia ended the 2022 campaign before it truly began. With this latest collapse, Italy have officially transformed from a global powerhouse into a cautionary tale of playoff heartbreak.

Haris Tabakovic forced extra time with an equalizer in the second half, and eventually, penalties sealed Italy’s fate. For the third time in a row, the Italians will watch the World Cup from home.

Having already missed the 2018 and 2022 events, Italy are now the first World Cup-winning country to miss three consecutive editions of the tournament.

This heartbreaking result only increases the crisis of one of the most storied nations in soccer history, as we’re talking about a team that won four World Cups — only one less than Brazil, who hold the record for most triumphs.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2026 World Cup schedule

With Bosnia and Herzegovina taking down Italy for a 2026 World Cup berth, Group B is set and so is its schedule. Bosnia and Herzegovina will make their debut against co-host Canada on June 12 at 3:00 PM ET at BMO Field in Toronto.

Six days later, they will travel to the West Coast to play Switzerland at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kickoff for that game on June 18 is also set at 3:00 PM ET.

The group stage finale will see Bosnia and Herzegovina taking on Qatar at Lumen Field in Seattle on June 24 at 3:00 PM ET.

The match began in Italy’s favor, with Moise Kean capitalizing on a costly blunder by goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj to open the scoring. However, the Azzurri suffered a massive blow just before the halftime whistle when Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card.

Gennaro Gattuso’s men showcased defensive resilience, holding their narrow lead for nearly the entire second half despite the man disadvantage. Their resistance finally crumbled with just 10 minutes remaining in regulation, as Haris Tabakovic found the back of the net to level the score for Bosnia.

After remaining deadlocked through extra time, the match moved to a penalty shootout where Italy’s composure completely vanished. With missed attempts from Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante, Bosnia and Herzegovina clinical from the spot, converting every penalty to secure a historic qualification and leave Italy out of the 2026 World Cup.

For Gennaro Gattuso‘s men, the stakes are clear: after finishing second in their qualifying group, they were forced into this playoff path, where only one team advances from each bracket to secure a spot in the FIFA tournament.

That context turns this matchup into a winner-takes-all scenario. A victory sends Italy to the 2026 World Cup, while any other result still carries the same risk: one team moves on, and the other is eliminated.

What happens if Italy beat Bosnia and Herzegovina today?

Italy would qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, joining Group B alongside Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland. This match is a one-game playoff final within the UEFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers structure, meaning there is no second leg or margin for recovery.

For them, a win would end a 12-year absence from the World Cup and avoid a third straight failure to qualify after missing 2018 and 2022. It would also validate their playoff run after advancing from the semifinals earlier this window.

What happens if Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina tie today?

If Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina are tied after 90 minutes, the match goes to extra time and, if still level, to a penalty shootout, where the winner qualifies and the loser is eliminated.

This is a single-game playoff final, so a draw does not count as a final result. Instead, both teams must continue playing until one wins. Two 15-minute extra-time periods are played, and if the score remains tied, the game is decided by penalties.

What happens if Italy lose to Bosnia and Herzegovina today?

If Italy lose at any point—whether in 90 minutes, extra time, or penalties—they are eliminated and will not qualify for the 2026 World Cup. There is no second leg, no aggregate score, and no fallback path.

This playoff format is strictly winner-takes-all, meaning a single defeat ends the campaign immediately. The Bosnia and Herzegovina national soccer team would secure the qualification spot by advancing from this final.

[Watch Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy online in the US on Fubo]

A long-awaited return to the world stage is on the line as Italy meets Bosnia and Herzegovina in the standout matchup of the UEFA qualifiers’ second round. Italy battled past Northern Ireland with a 2-0 win to keep its hopes alive after missing the last two World Cups.

Bosnia, on the other hand, arrives with confidence following a penalty shootout victory over Wales as it chases just its second-ever appearance. With everything at stake, this showdown promises intensity from start to finish—make sure you don’t miss it.

When will the Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy match be played?

Bosnia and Herzegovina will take on Italy on Tuesday, March 31, in the Path A final of the World Cup qualifiers, with kickoff slated for 2:45 PM (ET). Follow our liveblog of Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy and don’t miss anything!

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy: Time by State in the USA

ET: 2:45 PM
CT: 1:45 PM
MT: 12:45 PM
PT: 11:45 AM

How to watch Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy in the USA

Catch the thrilling UEFA World Cup qualifiers showdown between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy in the USA. Stream the action on Fubo. Other options: DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue FS1 and ViX.

Italy opened the deadlock in the second half thanks to a missile shot by Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, then Moise Kean scored the dagger. Now, Italy will face Bosnia and Herzegovina, who defeated Wales in a penalty shootout. This is the 2026 World Cup Draw and how many UEFA teams will qualify.

Italy didn’t suffer much in the defensive side of things, but their attack was a bit lackluster. There is a clear disconnection from the midfield to the forwards, given that Nicolo Barella wasn’t having much involvement in the ball distribution. However, Northern Ireland wasn’t up to par.

Gattuso’s management wasn’t prolific

When Gattuso was appointed as the Italy manager, many questioned his resume. However, the Italian Federation wanted someone with a strong character, which Gattuso has. Still, his substitutions ended up proving the doubters somewhat right.

Gattuso didn’t have the best performance, as he kept Barella for way longer than he should’ve, as well as lining up Alessandro Bastoni when he wasn’t fully fit to play. He ended up substituting Bastoni as there was no reason to keep him in the game since Northern Ireland weren’t attacking much.

Bosnia and Herzegovina present a different challenge than what Northern Ireland had

Bosnia and Herzegovina is an old, but experienced squad that has a lot of heart. Italy will get more rest than them as they had to go 120 minutes plus the penalty shootout to earn their spot in this game. Bosnia will be the home side though, so Italy will have to overcome hostile environment if they want to go back to their rightful place as a World Cup team.

The encounter at the New Balance Arena began with high intensity from the hosts, but Michael O’Neill’s men deployed a disciplined defensive block that frustrated Italy’s creative efforts. Despite dominating possession, the Italians struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half, heading into the locker room with the score tied at 0-0.

Gennaro Gattuso’s men emerged for the second half with renewed determination. The deadlock was finally broken in the 64th minute when Sandro Tonali unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box that sent the Bergamo crowd into a frenzy.

With Northern Ireland forced to push forward for an equalizer, Italy found more space to operate. They officially sealed the result ten minutes from time when Moise Kean provided a clinical finish to make it 2-0, ending any hopes of a late comeback. With this victory, they move on to the Path A Final on Tuesday, March 31. Italy will face the winner of the other semifinal between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina.