Maldini and Leonardo resign from FIGC amid crisis

On July 27, 2026, Paolo Maldini and Leonardo resigned from their positions at the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) during a time of crisis for the Italian football team, which has failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time. This resignation, first reported by Sky Sport Italia, marked another significant setback for the four-time world champions, who were already facing severe challenges in their footballing landscape.

The announcement came just 16 days after Maldini's appointment as technical director and Leonardo as his adviser, both of whom were expected to lead a major overhaul of Italian football aimed at rebuilding the national team ahead of the 2030 World Cup. The FIGC had publicly confirmed their appointments earlier in July as part of a broader strategy to steer the Italian squad back into contention.

Italy's recent failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup added to a troubling trend, as the team had already missed the 2018 and 2022 tournaments despite winning the European Championship in 2021. The pressure and scrutiny surrounding the national team intensified as the federation struggled to find a new head coach following Gennaro Gattuso's exit. Italy's attempts to hire a successor included outreach efforts to notable coaches like Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, but both declined the opportunity, leaving the federation with limited options.

After Guardiola turned down the role, Andrea Pirlo was positioned as a frontrunner for the head coach job. However, his potential hiring became controversial due to his connections with the Russian betting company Fonbet, raising questions among political figures and football authorities about the appropriateness of such a relationship. Pirlo, a World Cup champion from 2006, eventually withdrew his name from consideration, asserting that his association with Fonbet was not political in nature, but rather a commercial agreement.

The resignation of Maldini and Leonardo further complicated the already tumultuous situation within Italian football. Their exits left Italy in a precarious position as the FIGC was already undergoing institutional changes following the failure to qualify for the World Cup. With these departures, the federation faced renewed uncertainty regarding the leadership that would be necessary to guide the national team toward recovery and a hoped-for return to the World Cup in 2030.