World Cup playoffs, national team and future in Figc: Gabriele Gravina doesn’t mince words
During the press conference on the sidelines of the Figc Federal Council held Monday in Rome, Gabriele Gravina also addressed the issue related to the national team and Italy’s need to go through the playoff serpentine to go to the World Cup. In particular, the Federcalcio president categorically denied that there could be any possibility of a reshaping of the Serie A calendar in view of the playoffs at the end of March.
“We must not look for shortcuts or alternative ways, for me the possibility of postponing the Serie A fixture close to the playoffs is not viable – Gravina said. We are gearing up to allow Coach Gattuso to follow all the selectable players” in the best possible way.
The top manager of Italian soccer then replied to those who asked him about the possibility of resigning should the playoff result be negative: “There’is no rule that says so– he said. Already after the elimination from the last European Championships there was talk about it, but outside the Federation. Ours is a democratic body and the response to the November 2024 elections was clear”.
Italy will play the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoffs in March, playing the semifinal at home on March 26 against Northern Ireland and the eventual final away, against the winner of Wales-Bosnia Herzegovina. Only the winner of the final will play in the group stage of the rainbow competition.
