Pep Guardiola to Italy? Reports Claim He’s ‘Open’ to Leading Azzurri After FIFA World Cup 2026 Failure

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Following Italy’s devastating failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, their third consecutive absence from the tournament, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is reportedly looking for a change to save the soul of Italian football, and the reports emerging claim that Pep Guardiola is the prime candidate to take over the Italian national team.

Guardiola Has Long Wanted to Manage a National Team

One of the reports from the Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that the Manchester City mastermind is not just a dream target but is actually “open to listening” to a proposal to lead the Italian rebuild. “Why not?” is what Pep responded to the question regarding his future in Italy.

Italy are currently in a state of footballing mourning after losing the World Cup playoff to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties, leading to the immediate resignation of the team’s manager, Gennaro Gattuso. With the FIGC set to elect a new president on June 22there is a desperate search for a figurehead who can modernize the national team’s identity.

And, as for Guardiola, he has a deep, personal connection to Italy, having played for Brescia and Roma during his playing career. On the other hand, he has frequently expressed a desire to manage a national team at a major tournament before he retires.

With his current contract at Manchester City running until 2027the report suggests he could seek an early exit this summer to “slow down” from the grind of club football while taking on the challenge of a lifetime, returning Italy to the 2030 World Cup.

What are the major obstacles to Guardiola’s move to Italy?

However, there are some obstacles that might play a role if Guardiola wishes to join hands with FIGC. The Spaniard reportedly earns around €24.8 million (£21.5 million) annually at Manchester City. Meanwhile, Italy’s highest-paid coach in history, Roberto Mancini, earned approximately €3 million. To bridge this gap, the FIGC would likely need massive external support from commercial sponsors, a model they previously used to hire Antonio Conte.

Nevertheless, the rumours stay well alive despite the financial obstacles due to public support from Italian legends. Leonardo Bonucciwho is now working closely with the FIGC, recently stated at the Laureus Awards, “If there’s a real desire to start over, I’d start with Pep Guardiola, because bringing in someone like him would mean making a complete change compared to everything that happened in the past. I think it’s very difficult, but dreaming right now doesn’t cost anything.