Buffon joins Italy chief in resigning after failing to reach World Cup
Gianluigi Buffon has stepped down from his role as head of delegation for Italy following their failure to qualify for the World Cup.
The decision comes just days after Italy were beaten on penalties by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final, confirming their absence from a third consecutive tournament.
Buffon, 48, had held the position since August 2023, having been appointed by the Italian Football Federation.
He remained in the role through managerial changes, including the transition from Luciano Spalletti to Gennaro Gattuso.
The former goalkeeper oversaw Italy’s Euro 2024 campaign, where they reached the knockout stages before being eliminated by Switzerland in the last 16.
However, the subsequent World Cup qualifying campaign ended in disappointment. Italy finished behind Norway in their group, forcing them into the play-offs, where victory over Northern Ireland was followed by the defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The result extends a historic run of failure for Italy, who have now missed three straight World Cups for the first time.
Buffon enjoyed a distinguished international career as a player, winning the World Cup in 2006 and earning 176 caps. He also captained the side for several years and featured in multiple major tournaments, including five World Cups.
