Italian Football At A Crossroads As FIGC Publishes Stark State-Of-The-Game Report

Italian football is facing a moment of deep reckoning following the publication of a comprehensive report outlining the structural challenges threatening the sport’s future, just one day after the national team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Released by the Italian Football Federation and authored by outgoing president Gabriele Gravina, the report paints a troubling picture of systemic decline across multiple areas, from youth development and financial sustainability to infrastructure and governance.

Gravina, who recently resigned but remains in a caretaker role until elections in June, said the sport’s biggest issue is not a lack of solutions but an inability to implement them.

“The impossibility of intervening effectively has overtaken the inability to identify possible solutions,” Gravina wrote, calling for unity across football authorities and stronger backing from government institutions.

Declining Talent Pipeline

Among the most pressing concerns is the shrinking pool of Italian players available for the national team. The report highlights that Serie A has one of the oldest average player ages in Europe at 27, while foreign players account for nearly 68% of total minutes played this season.

Only 89 Italian players have featured regularly in the current campaign, a figure the report suggests is insufficient to sustain a competitive national team. Even more alarming is the lack of opportunities for young talent, with Italian under-21 players accounting for just 1.9% of minutes played, ranking 49th out of 50 leagues worldwide.

Italy also lags behind Europe’s top nations in developing and exporting home-grown talent, with only two clubs, Atalanta and Juventus, featuring among the world’s top 50 academies by revenue generated from youth player sales.

Falling Behind on the Pitch

The report also details a decline in the technical and physical quality of the domestic game. Compared to other top European leagues, Serie A ranks poorly in key performance metrics, including sprinting distance, ball speed, dribbling frequency, and pressing intensity.

Despite recent success at youth international level, Italian players are struggling to transition into senior football. Players who excelled in youth tournaments often receive significantly less playing time than their counterparts in countries like Spain, France, and England.

Financial Instability and Structural Issues

Off the pitch, the financial outlook is equally concerning. Italian professional football continues to lose more than €730 million annually, with total debt reaching €5.5 billion.

Over the past four decades, 194 clubs have been excluded from professional leagues due to financial issues, while points deductions have become increasingly common. Meanwhile, agent fees hit a record high of over €300 million in 2025.

The system is also described as “bloated,” with 97 professional clubs, far more than most comparable nations.

Infrastructure and Governance Challenges

Italy’s stadium infrastructure is another major weakness. The country has failed to modernize facilities at the same rate as its European rivals, raising concerns ahead of co-hosting UEFA Euro 2032.

Governance issues further complicate reform efforts. The report points to a fragmented system with too many stakeholders holding conflicting interests, often resulting in decision-making paralysis.

Legislative constraints, including a 2021 sports labour reform, have also had unintended consequences, particularly in weakening youth development structures.

Reform Proposals and Political Appeal

Despite the bleak assessment, the report outlines a series of proposals aimed at revitalizing Italian football. These include:

• Introducing a levy on gambling revenues to fund youth development and infrastructure
• Tax incentives for investing in young players and facilities
• Reinstating favourable tax conditions for foreign players
• Lifting restrictions on betting sponsorships
• Increased public funding for stadium projects and women’s football
• Structural reforms to reduce the number of professional clubs

However, many of these measures require legislative action, prompting Gravina to call for urgent government intervention.

A Call for Unity

Ultimately, the report concludes that meaningful change will only be possible through collective action across football institutions and political bodies.

“With the best interests of Italian football at heart, a unified approach is essential,” Gravina stated. “Without a shared commitment to reform, no individual can deliver the true revitalisation of the game.”

As Italian football grapples with one of the most challenging periods in its history, the report serves as both a warning and a roadmap, though whether its recommendations will translate into action remains uncertain.

_{Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / Jordi Orts Segalés, Unsplash / Martina Picciau}