Italy's Failure to Qualify for 2026 World Cup Sparks Political Debate

(MENAFN) Italy’s stunning failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup — the third consecutive time the four-time world champions have been shut out of football’s biggest stage — has ignited a fierce political firestorm, with lawmakers descending on the football federation Wednesday and demanding sweeping accountability.

Inside the Chamber of Deputies, the ruling Brothers of Italy (FdI) party moved swiftly, pressing Sports Minister Andrea Abodi to appear before parliament and explain what legislators bluntly labeled the “failure of Italian football,” according to media.

The League (Lega) went further, issuing a call for a “total reform of football” and pushing for hard caps on non-EU players while demanding greater opportunities for homegrown Italian talent in starting lineups. The political pressure extended beyond the sports sphere, with Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida making clear that heads must roll, insisting someone be held accountable for the national team’s historic underperformance.

The sharpest rebuke came from Chamber Vice President Giorgio Mule, who renewed calls for Italian Football Federation chief Gabriele Gravina to step down, accusing federation leadership of closing ranks to protect him from consequences.

Gravina, facing mounting pressure from all directions, publicly acknowledged the depth of the crisis but pushed back against the notion that the federation alone bears responsibility. He argued that any meaningful reform must involve a wider conversation encompassing leagues and clubs — not simply restructuring at the top of the federation.

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