Italy’s crucial World Cup playoff final against Bosnia in Zenica carries immense implications beyond the pitch. Prominent journalist Giancarlo Padovan has warned that a third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup could trigger a complete overhaul of the Italian Football Federation’s (FIGC) senior leadership.
Padovan unequivocally stated his belief that if Italy fail to qualify, the federation would likely be placed under external administration for a year, leading to the removal of its current leadership.
FIGC President Gravina Under Pressure
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina is the most prominent figure whose position is under threat. Despite overseeing two previous World Cup absences, he was recently re-elected unopposed and has, until now, withstood significant pressure to step down.
According to Padovan, a third consecutive failure to reach the tournament would almost certainly make Gravina’s position untenable, with other senior officials around him also facing risks.
Italy’s team, led by Gennaro Gattuso, faces Bosnia knowing that only a victory will secure their place at the 2026 World Cup in North America. Having won their semi-final against Northern Ireland, they stand just one match away from ending a painful absence from the global stage.
However, a defeat would initiate what Padovan describes as a fundamental reset of Italian football’s governing structures.
