The Associated Press reports.

Italy's failure to reach the last three World Cups has intensified pressure on the federation to secure a high-profile replacement.

Published On 24 Jul 202624 Jul 2026

The FIGC has approached both Pep Guardiola, formerly of Manchester City, and current Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti regarding the vacant Italy manager position.

The federation aims to name a new coach within the week, as Italy remains in shock after failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time.

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Paolo Maldini, a former Italy and AC Milan defender, was appointed technical director earlier this month and attended a meeting with Serie A clubs on Thursday, alongside FIGC president Giovanni Malago and advisor Leonardo.

“Honestly, we can’t give news about what’s happening. You’ve identified one of our targets,” Maldini said when asked about Guardiola in a news conference after the meeting.

“We can’t hide that we also talked with Carlo Ancelotti before talking with Pep. Honestly, it seemed right to start with the best in the world, to see their general availability.”

Guardiola left Man City at the end of last season, bringing to a close a trophy-laden, 10-year spell in which he established City as a force in Europe and changed the face of English football.

The 55-year-old Guardiola has won 35 major titles across his coaching career, including at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Maldini and Leonardo spent three days in Barcelona recently to speak with Guardiola about taking the Italy job.

“The best thing would be to announce the new coach this week, but even more to wait for the person we really want,” Maldini said. “So there’s urgency, but not so much inside us.”

Ancelotti signed a contract extension with Brazil in May through to the 2030 World Cup, but the five-time world champion just had one of its worst performances on football’s biggest stage as it was eliminated in the round of 16 after a 2-1 loss to Norway.

The 67-year-old Ancelotti has won league titles in Italy, England, France, Spain and Germany. He is also the only coach to have won the Champions League five times.

Four-time champion Italy missed out on a third straight World Cup after a playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March, prompting the resignations of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso.

Gattuso had taken over from the fired Luciano Spalletti only the previous June with the squad already flailing following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier.

Former Italy coaches Roberto Mancini – who led the Azzurri to the European Championship in 2021 – and Antonio Conte are also among the favourites to take charge of the national team. Andrea Pirlo, who helped Italy to the World Cup in 2006 as a player, is also reportedly in contention.

Carlo Ancelotti, currently managing Brazil, has a storied club career including stints at Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Chelsea. Pep Guardiola, who left Manchester City after a decade, is known for his tactical innovations and 35 major titles at Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup since 2014 has prompted a major overhaul of the football federation. The appointment of a top-tier coach like Guardiola or Ancelotti would signal Italy's ambition to return to the global elite.