The Italian national football team faces a profound crisis marked by administrative turmoil, leadership changes, and persistent struggles on the pitch that stretch far beyond a single qualification failure.
Leadership Chaos and the Short-Lived Maldini Project
According to reports from Italian sports media, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) plunged into turmoil following a high-profile disagreement between newly appointed technical director Paolo Maldini and federation president Giovanni Malagò. Maldini, who assumed office to steady a listing sporting structure, targeted former star Andrea Pirlo to take charge of the senior squad. However, Malagò blocked the appointment due to legal and ethical hurdles surrounding Pirlo’s commercial role as an ambassador for a Russian betting firm. Strict Italian laws prohibit domestic sports advertising for gambling operations, creating an untenable conflict. The standoff ended swiftly when Maldini resigned just 16 days into his tenure, alongside federation advisor Leonardo, leaving the FIGC’s sporting project in ruins before it truly began.
Roberto Mancini Returns Alongside Claudio Rainieri
Following the abrupt departure of the initial sporting hierarchy, Malagò moved quickly to install a familiar face at the helm. Roberto Mancini returns as head coach of the Azzurra, resuming a post he previously held for 58 matches, highlighted by the triumph at the 2021 European Championship. Joining him as technical director is veteran manager Claudio Rainieri. Mancini’s return carries significant baggage among supporters, many of whom have not forgiven his sudden resignation during his first stint to take charge of the Saudi Arabia national team, coupled with his failure to qualify Italy for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Nations League Trials and Historic World Cup Absence
The newly minted coaching staff inherits an unforgiving competitive slate, starting with the UEFA Nations League. Italy has been drawn into a formidable group featuring Belgium, Turkey, and France, with their opening fixture scheduled against Belgium. These upcoming fixtures arrive against the sobering backdrop of Italy’s broader international decline. Once a titan holding four World Cup titles—trailing only Brazil’s five—the Azzurra have failed to qualify for the last three World Cups (2018, 2022, and the upcoming 2026 tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico), compounding the trauma of missing the 2018 tournament immortalized by Gianluigi Buffon’s tears.
Serie A Contrast and the Search for Identity
While the national team searches for its footing, domestic Italian clubs display relative stability in European competition. Serie A sides regularly feature in advanced continental knockout rounds, highlighted by Inter Milan reaching the Champions League final in 2023 and 2025 following their 2010 title under José Mourinho, alongside Atalanta capturing the Europa League in 2024 and Roma winning the Europa Conference League in 2022. Yet, observers note that the senior national squad lacks the distinct tactical identity and creative linchpins—such as Roberto Baggio, Alessandro Del Piero, Andrea Pirlo, or Francesco Totti—that once defined Italian football, leaving the historic program searching for a modern blueprint.
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