Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President Giovanni Malagò confirmed on July 27, 2026, that a new head coach for the Italy national team will be selected within 24 hours.
The announcement follows Andrea Pirlo's withdrawal from consideration amid public scrutiny over his commercial ties with a Russian firm.
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Selection Process Underway
FIGC leadership is holding meetings with key figures, including technical director Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo, ahead of a scheduled federal council meeting.
Malagò stated, "The new head coach within tomorrow. Abodi talks about a bad impression?
We need to see who made it."
He noted that inquiries about the vacancy have increased significantly. "The new coach?
He will arrive shortly, by tomorrow. I am working," he said.
Malagò emphasized the need for structural reforms across youth age brackets to restore competitive credibility. "For our recovery...
you must work with kids who are 13 to 16 years old today," he added.
Political and Diplomatic Reactions
Sports Minister Andrea Abodi expressed disappointment over the handling of Pirlo's candidacy. "Pirlo's withdrawal...
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is a situation we would have wanted to be different," he said.
Former AC Milan and Italy legend Gianni Rivera criticized the initial consideration of Pirlo. "He is not the right person.
Regarding his relations with Russia, we must be very strict," Rivera stated.
Russian Ambassador to Italy Alexey Paramonov expressed solidarity with Pirlo in an open letter, criticizing the Italian establishment's response.
