The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has officially named Gennaro Gattuso as the new head coach after parting ways with Luciano Spalletti. The announcement comes after a heavy 3–0 loss to Norway, which has put the Azzurri in serious trouble on the road to the 2026 World Cup. Gattuso’s official presentation will take place on June 19 in Rome, where he’ll face the biggest challenge of his coaching career.

Gattuso brings grit and urgency

Even though he wasn’t the first choice — the FIGC reportedly looked at Claudio Ranieri, Stefano Pioli, Andrea Pirlo, and Daniele De Rossi — Gattuso was picked for his national identity, fire, and experience. A World Cup winner in 2006 as a player, he’s coached clubs like Milan, Napoli, Valencia, and most recently Hajduk Split, where he stepped down by mutual agreement.

To secure a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup, Italy must win all six of its remaining matches and rack up a strong goal difference. If not, they’ll have to go through the playoffs — a route that already brought heartbreak with losses to Sweden in 2017 and North Macedonia in 2022.

Institutional support and public pressure

FIGC president Gabriele Gravina backed the decision, saying: “Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football. His passion and character are exactly what we need right now.” And he's not wrong — Italy has missed the last two World Cups, a historic low for a nation with four titles.

Gattuso’s debut will be on September 5 against Estonia, in a do-or-die stretch where even the slightest slip-up could be fatal. While the coach’s fighting spirit is unquestionable, the Azzurri will need more than just grit — they’ll need structure, goals, and instant results to punch their ticket to USA, Mexico, and Canada 2026.