Crisis in Italian football after failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup

The Italian national football team has failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, marking the third consecutive time the four-time champions will miss the tournament. Public dissatisfaction with the Italian Football Federation is high following this historic decline. Gennaro Gattuso is expected to depart as head coach, leading to intense speculation regarding his successor. Reports from Foot Mercato and Corriere dello Sport suggest José Mourinho is a leading candidate, supported by a fan poll where he received 27% of votes, ahead of Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, and Roberto Mancini. Additionally, Ignazio La Russa, the President of the Italian Senate, publicly suggested Mourinho as a potential replacement, though he expressed personal support for Gattuso. La Russa also proposed radical reforms for Serie A, including a mandate to field at least four Italian players at all times to address the shortage of domestic talent. Fans have expressed their frustration, demanding structural changes within the governing body.