Buffon says Italy must change after missing a third straight World Cup
Quick summary
Gianluigi Buffon described Italy's failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup as painful and almost unimaginable, calling for honest analysis and structural change. The comments come after his departure from the national team setup following the play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceGianluigi Buffon has opened up about his recent departure from the national team set-up and has admitted that if you’d asked him 12 years ago, he would have said ‘it’s much easier to see 1,000 aliens around me rather than Italy not qualifying for three consecutive World Cups’.
Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News and Content – Free Trial – Click Here Buffon discusses Italy’s World Cup failure: ‘We need to change’
Buffon was part of the Italy set-up, serving as the head of delegation until the beginning of April, but left his position along with national team head coach Gennaro Gattuso and FIGC President Gabriele Gravina following the failure to overcome Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off final.
The CT role has temporarily been handed over to U21s head coach Silvio Baldini, who will lead a youthful Italy side into a pair of friendlies in June while others put in their final preparations ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
“It has been a painful page for Italian football and myself,” said Buffon in a feature interview with The Guardian as part of the promotion of his new book Saved.
UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Gianluigi Buffon, Head of Delegation of Italy, looks on prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Buffon admits that it would have been inconceivable for Italy to miss out on three consecutive World Cups during the height of his playing career: “If they had told me this would happen [12] years ago I would have said that it’s much easier to see 1,000 aliens around me rather than Italy not qualifying for three tournaments consecutively. But that’s the reality.
“In order to overcome this we need to understand why there are difficulties. We need to change. If we are clear about this analysis, we have the potential to create a much better future. But if you deny there is a problem, then that problem will always be there.”
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Players show their dejection of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images) Buffon believes that there are three fundamental issues that have harmed the national team: “The first is globalisation, which has made it possible for all teams to be very competitive, and the average level of play has increased a lot.
“Secondly, up to 15 years ago when we used to win, we were stronger tactically than our opponents. And thirdly, we have some fantastic players but what’s missing is the truly creative talent like [Roberto] Baggio, [Alessandro] Del Piero or [Francesco] Totti that used to help us prevail.”
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What happened
Gianluigi Buffon has spoken publicly about Italy missing a third straight World Cup, saying that during his playing career such an outcome would have seemed unthinkable. He said Italian football must confront the reasons behind the decline rather than deny the problem. The article also notes Buffon, Gennaro Gattuso and FIGC president Gabriele Gravina left their roles after the play-off loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Italy's interim setup under Silvio Baldini will now oversee a younger squad in June friendlies while the wider reset continues.
Chance analysis
This matters mainly as a signal of instability and self-assessment around the Italy national team rather than an immediate squad update. The combination of failed qualification, leadership turnover and public acknowledgement of systemic issues points to a transition phase, which can increase uncertainty around short-term team performance and selection continuity.
Italy enter their next matches in a reset phase, with increased uncertainty around cohesion, direction and medium-term performance level.
Treat this as a medium-confidence structural negative for Italy: leadership change and admitted systemic decline raise uncertainty more than they create an immediate tactical edge.