The consequences of Italy’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup are making headlines after the head of Italy's football federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, officially resigned from his position. Gravina on Thursday (April 2) announced that he will be stepping down from his role, mere 48 hours after Italy failed to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026, having lost on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday.<h2>Gravina steps down as FIGC head</h2>Gravina revealed he would step down as the country's top football official following a meeting held at the FIGC's headquarters in Rome on Thursday. Italy fell at the play-offs again on Tuesday, this time after a penalty shoot-out against Bosnia and Herzegovina and will miss this summer's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.&nbsp;The shock waves of the latest humiliation for one of the world's most important football nations forced Gravina, 72, to go back on his initial plans to wait until a FIGC board meeting next week to announce a decision on his future. The FIGC said in a statement that a vote for a new president will be held on June 22, with Giovanni Malago, the former long-time head of the Italian Olympic Committee who was president of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics organisation committee, among the names in the hat.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;Gravina's resignation also means Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso could resign, as it was Gravina who asked the 2006 World Cup winner to stay on beyond the end of his current contract, which expires in the summer. He was elected FIGC president in October 2018, becoming the permanent replacement for Carlo Tavecchio, who stepped down following Italy's first World Cup play-off defeat to Sweden the previous year.&nbsp;The highlight of his reign was Italy's thrilling triumph at Euro 2020, when an Azzurri team that under Roberto Mancini went unbeaten for 37 matches beat England at Wembley to be crowned kings of the continent. But two World Cup qualification failures and a dismal defence of the European title left Gravina with little choice but to resign as Italy shine in other sports while being left behind in football.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Gravina also caused anger on Tuesday by referring to other sports as "amateur" and "state sports" compared to football due to the large number of athletes, particularly Olympians, who are nominally employed by different arms of Italy's armed forces and police. Italy claimed a record 30 medals at the recent Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, including 10 golds, and left the 2024 Summer Games in Paris with 40 medals.&nbsp;The Mediterranean nation also has top performers in a wide variety of other sports, with tennis star Jannik Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam winner, the most obvious example.

Italy fell at the play-offs of the FIFA World Cup again on Tuesday, this time after a penalty shoot-out against Bosnia and Herzegovina and will miss this summer's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The consequences of Italy’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup are making headlines after the head of Italy's football federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, officially resigned from his position. Gravina on Thursday (April 2) announced that he will be stepping down from his role, mere 48 hours after Italy failed to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026, having lost on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday. Gravina steps down as FIGC head Gravina revealed he would step down as the country's top football official following a meeting held at the FIGC's headquarters in Rome on Thursday. Italy fell at the play-offs again on Tuesday, this time after a penalty shoot-out against Bosnia and Herzegovina and will miss this summer's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The shock waves of the latest humiliation for one of the world's most important football nations forced Gravina, 72, to go back on his initial plans to wait until a FIGC board meeting next week to announce a decision on his future. The FIGC said in a statement that a vote for a new president will be held on June 22, with Giovanni Malago, the former long-time head of the Italian Olympic Committee who was president of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics organisation committee, among the names in the hat. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Gravina's resignation also means Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso could resign, as it was Gravina who asked the 2006 World Cup winner to stay on beyond the end of his current contract, which expires in the summer. He was elected FIGC president in October 2018, becoming the permanent replacement for Carlo Tavecchio, who stepped down following Italy's first World Cup play-off defeat to Sweden the previous year. The highlight of his reign was Italy's thrilling triumph at Euro 2020, when an Azzurri team that under Roberto Mancini went unbeaten for 37 matches beat England at Wembley to be crowned kings of the continent. But two World Cup qualification failures and a dismal defence of the European title left Gravina with little choice but to resign as Italy shine in other sports while being left behind in football. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Gravina also caused anger on Tuesday by referring to other sports as "amateur" and "state sports" compared to football due to the large number of athletes, particularly Olympians, who are nominally employed by different arms of Italy's armed forces and police. Italy claimed a record 30 medals at the recent Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, including 10 golds, and left the 2024 Summer Games in Paris with 40 medals. The Mediterranean nation also has top performers in a wide variety of other sports, with tennis star Jannik Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam winner, the most obvious example.

Italy fell at the play-offs of the FIFA World Cup again on Tuesday, this time after a penalty shoot-out against Bosnia and Herzegovina and will miss this summer's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Italian FA chief Gabriele Gravina steps down after national team fails to reach 2026 FIFA World Cup

Italy's football federation approved on Friday changes to Serie A's league title and relegation play-offs which were introduced last season.

In a statement, the FIGC confirmed that should two teams finish on the same points at the top of the table the Scudetto would be decided in a one-match play-off.

However the rules now state that instead of the deciding match being played at a neutral venue it would be hosted by whichever team finishes in first place.

In Serie A whoever has the best head-to-head record between teams on the same points takes the higher position, after which come goal difference and goals scored if the teams still cannot be separated.

The showdown could be switched to whichever stadium hosts the Italian Cup final -- in recent years Rome's Stadio Olimpico -- if the Italian authorities decide it necessary on the basis of public order.

The relegation play-off, disputed by the teams which finish either side of the drop zone in 17th and 18th, will be a two-legged affair with the team higher in the table playing the second leg at home.

Last season Spezia were relegated by Verona in a one-off match after ending the regular season just outside the bottom three.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/you-can-just-text-me-rr-star-replies-to-former-cricketers-commentators-criticising-his-game-613074">'You can just text me': RR star replies to former cricketers, commentators criticising his game</a>

The FIGC also said tiny Lecco would play in Serie B for the first time in half a century after deciding their bureaucratic troubles should not stop the club for registering in the second tier.

Lecco, based on the eastern leg of Lake Como, were promoted last month but don't have a stadium which meets Serie B's regulations so had to find an alternative site.

They had two days to submit documentation for Serie B after beating Foggia in the play-off final and missed the deadline.&nbsp;

But they were given a reprieve by the FIGC after demonstrating that they had approval to use Padova's stadium some 200 kilometres away in Italy's north-east.

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Italy's football federation approved on Friday changes to Serie A's league title and relegation play-offs which were introduced last season. In a statement, the FIGC confirmed that should two teams finish on the same points at the top of the table the Scudetto would be decided in a one-match play-off.

Italy's football federation approved on Friday changes to Serie A's league title and relegation play-offs which were introduced last season. In a statement, the FIGC confirmed that should two teams finish on the same points at the top of the table the Scudetto would be decided in a one-match play-off. However the rules now state that instead of the deciding match being played at a neutral venue it would be hosted by whichever team finishes in first place. In Serie A whoever has the best head-to-head record between teams on the same points takes the higher position, after which come goal difference and goals scored if the teams still cannot be separated. The showdown could be switched to whichever stadium hosts the Italian Cup final -- in recent years Rome's Stadio Olimpico -- if the Italian authorities decide it necessary on the basis of public order. The relegation play-off, disputed by the teams which finish either side of the drop zone in 17th and 18th, will be a two-legged affair with the team higher in the table playing the second leg at home. Last season Spezia were relegated by Verona in a one-off match after ending the regular season just outside the bottom three. ALSO READ | 'You can just text me': RR star replies to former cricketers, commentators criticising his game The FIGC also said tiny Lecco would play in Serie B for the first time in half a century after deciding their bureaucratic troubles should not stop the club for registering in the second tier. Lecco, based on the eastern leg of Lake Como, were promoted last month but don't have a stadium which meets Serie B's regulations so had to find an alternative site. They had two days to submit documentation for Serie B after beating Foggia in the play-off final and missed the deadline. But they were given a reprieve by the FIGC after demonstrating that they had approval to use Padova's stadium some 200 kilometres away in Italy's north-east. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Football: Serie A title and relegation play-offs to be rejigged by Italian FA

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Italian FA chief Gabriele Gravina steps down after national team fails to reach 2026 FIFA World Cup

Football: Serie A title and relegation play-offs to be rejigged by Italian FA