Maldini, Leonardo resign from FIGC roles amid Italy’s World Cup crisis

Paolo Maldini and Leonardo have reportedly resigned from their positions within the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), dealing another significant blow to Italy's footballing landscape. The departures occur mere weeks after the former AC Milan figures were tasked with spearheading a critical overhaul of the sport in Italy. Maldini had been appointed technical director, with Leonardo serving as his advisor, as part of the FIGC's strategy to rebuild the national team and prepare for the 2030 World Cup. Maldini's resignation, just 16 days into his role, is particularly striking, as he was expected to be instrumental in selecting a new head coach following Gennaro Gattuso's exit. Italy's football crisis has been exacerbated by its failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, marking the third consecutive omission from the tournament, despite their 2021 European Championship victory. The coaching search itself has been fraught with difficulties, with initial targets Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola unavailable. The controversy surrounding Andrea Pirlo's potential appointment, due to his commercial ties with a Russian betting company, further complicated matters, leading to his withdrawal from consideration. The reported resignations of Maldini and Leonardo now cast further doubt on the federation's reform program and its ability to navigate one of the darkest periods in Italian football history. The FIGC president, Gabriele Gravina, had already resigned following the qualification failure, signaling a broader institutional reckoning.