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It has happened again. The Italian national team has once again failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. Following the nightmares of 2018 and 2022, the Azzurri will be absent from the 2026 tournament in North America after a devastating playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica. For a nation that considers the [\u2026]<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
It has happened again. The Italian national team has once again failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.<\/span><\/p>\n Following the nightmares of 2018 and 2022, the <\/span>Azzurri<\/span><\/i> will be absent from the 2026 tournament in North America after a devastating playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica.<\/span><\/p>\n For a nation that considers the World Cup its natural habitat, a twelve-year absence from the world\u2019s biggest stage is no longer just a crisis \u2013 it is a historic catastrophe.<\/p>\n A visibly shaken Gennaro Gattuso spoke to the media shortly after the final whistle, struggling to articulate the \u201cdeep pain\u201d felt by the squad.<\/span><\/p>\n Italy played the majority of the match with ten men following Alessandro Bastoni\u2019s first-half red card, yet they managed to fight to a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n However, the lottery of a penalty shootout once again proved to be Italy\u2019s undoing, falling 4-1 with misses from Francesco Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt hurts, it really hurts,\u201d Gattuso told reporters.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not interested at all in talking about my future today.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should talk about Italy, about the blue jersey, and the fact that this is another massive setback for our movement.<\/p>\n \u201cI personally apologize to the Italians.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t make it, and it hurts so much to see this group of players, who gave everything, suffer like this.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the calls for a total overhaul of the Italian footballing system, FIGC President Gabriele Gravina has surprisingly moved to back the manager.<\/span><\/p>\n In the immediate aftermath of the Zenica disaster, Gravina confirmed that he has asked Gattuso to remain in his post to lead the transition toward Euro 2028.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI have asked Gennaro to stay, and I have asked Gianluigi Buffon to stay in his role,\u201d Gravina stated.<\/span><\/p>\n While the FIGC board is set to meet next week to discuss the \u201cprofound crisis,\u201d the federation seems hesitant to pull the trigger on a manager who only took over from Luciano Spalletti last June.<\/span><\/p>\nGennaro Gattuso\u2019s Emotional Reaction to Playoff Defeat<\/h2>\n
Will Gattuso Stay? FIGC President Gravina Offers Support<\/span><\/h2>\n