Former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has resigned from his role as head of delegation with the national team following the country’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Buffon announced his decision on Thursday, April 2, 2026, after Italy’s painful play-off defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina, where the four-time world champions lost 4-1 on penalties, extending a worrying run of absences from football’s biggest tournament. Italy have now missed three consecutive World Cups, having also failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 editions.
Buffon, who was part of Italy’s triumphant squad at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, described his resignation as “an act of responsibility.”
According to BBC Sport, the 48-year-old had been working closely with the national team setup but acknowledged that the primary goal of returning Italy to the World Cup had not been achieved.
His exit follows that of Gabriele Gravina, who also stepped down as president of the Italian Football Federation amid mounting scrutiny over the team’s struggles on the international stage.
Explaining his decision, Buffon said it was important to give incoming leadership the freedom to appoint their own personnel. “It’s fair to leave it to those who will come after the freedom to choose the figure they think is best to play my role,” he stated.
Italy’s failure to qualify marks a historic low for one of football’s most successful nations, prompting a period of reflection and expected restructuring as the federation looks to rebuild ahead of future competitions.
