Overview
- Italy lost Tuesday’s playoff in Zenica to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties after a 1-1 draw, sealing a third straight World Cup absence.
- After the defeat, Sports Minister Andrea Abodi called for FIGC president Gabriele Gravina to resign, and Gravina set a federal council meeting next week to assess the crisis.
- Italian outlets report possible exits for Gravina, delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon and coach Gennaro Gattuso, and Corriere dello Sport says Michele Uva is slated for an executive role, though these moves remain unconfirmed.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for only their second World Cup and will join Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
- Italian media and former greats describe a structural breakdown, pointing to few Italians in Serie A, poor pathways from youth teams to the pros and years of federation inertia that now threaten finances and stadium plans for Euro 2032.