Italy’s failure to reach the World Cup for the third straight time could lead to a complete overhaul of the system and head coach Gennaro Gattuso’s future also looks imperiled after the heartbreaking play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia triumphed on penalties in the European qualifying playoff final as the Azzurri’s unwanted streak of not appearing at a men’s World Cup since 2014 continued. Gattuso and technical delegate Gianluigi Buffon only took over from the sacked Luciano Spalletti in June 2025, when Italy were already badly trailing Norway in their qualification group, but couldn’t turn the ship around and steer it to the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.
