Buffon Resigns from Italy Role After World Cup Exit

Gianluigi Buffon, the former goalkeeper and part of Italy's victorious squad in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, has stepped down from his role with the Italian national team after the country's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This decision follows Italy's painful playoff defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they lost 4-1 on penalties, marking an unprecedented low for the four-time world champions, who have now missed three consecutive World Cups (2018, 2022, and 2026).

Buffon, 48, expressed in his resignation statement that changes in leadership were underway, allowing for the freedom to appoint personnel deemed best for the team's future. His departure comes alongside Gabriel Gravina's resignation as president of the Italian Football Federation amid growing scrutiny over the team's struggles on the international stage, prompting expectations of restructuring within the federation as they look to rebuild for future competitions.