The Italian football landscape is grappling with severe challenges, amplified by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin's stern warning that the nation risks losing its status as a co-host for the Euro 2032 tournament without substantial upgrades to its stadiums.
This development follows the immediate resignation of Gabriele Gravina, president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), during an urgent general council meeting. Gravina's departure occurred just two days after Italy's humiliating third consecutive failure to secure a spot in the FIFA World Cup, following a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The mounting pressure on the federation's leadership had been evident, with Sports Minister Andrea Abodi publicly advocating for a change in management.
Following Gravina's exit, Gianluigi Buffon also stepped down. Attention is now intensely focused on head coach Gennaro Gattuso, whose position appears untenable after the team's inability to qualify for the World Cup. Gattuso had taken over the coaching role in June 2025, succeeding Luciano Spalletti.
An election for a new FIGC president is scheduled for June. However, the incoming leadership will be confronted with profound structural issues. Italy is currently slated to share hosting duties for Euro 2032 with Turkey. Yet, persistent concerns about the outdated condition of the country's football venues have escalated.
Ceferin was unequivocal that the hosting rights are conditional on tangible improvements. "Euro 2032 will proceed, but if Italy's infrastructure is not ready, the tournament will not be held there," he stated, criticizing the facilities as being among the poorest in Europe.
Italy is under a tight deadline to select five host stadiums from a preliminary list of 11 cities by October. Currently, only the Allianz Stadium meets UEFA's stringent criteria. While upgrades are planned for iconic venues like San Siro, Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, and Stadio Artemio Franchi, alongside a proposed new stadium in Rome, the timeline is critical, with construction needing to commence by March 2027.
Ceferin also alluded to broader systemic problems, noting the complex interplay between football governance and political dynamics within Italy. Despite his close professional ties with Gravina, who holds the position of UEFA's first vice-president, Ceferin stressed that Italy's footballing issues extend beyond any single individual.
Gravina, who assumed the presidency in 2018 and presided over Italy's victorious campaign at UEFA Euro 2020, acknowledged the severity of the current crisis after the latest World Cup qualification failure, admitting that Italian football requires a comprehensive overhaul.
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