Giovanni Malagò elected president of Italy’s football federation

Giovanni Malagò, former CONI president and head of the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Olympic organising committee, was elected president of the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) with 68.58% of the votes (343,084) against Giancarlo Abete’s 29.17% (145,936). The election took place on 22 June 2026 at the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Hotel, with 2.25% blank votes.

Malagò, 67, said he could not act alone and pledged to work with clubs and institutions to “make Italy great” and to rebuild a federation that has missed three consecutive World Cup qualifications. He highlighted priorities such as stadium infrastructure, tax relief, betting regulation, and technical reforms. In his remarks he promised to appoint a new national team coach, naming Antonio Conte as a leading candidate, and mentioned a potential technical director role for former Milan legend Paolo Maldini.

The vote reflects strong backing from Serie A and Serie B clubs, while Abete’s support came from lower‑division bodies. Malagò’s mandate is expected to focus on commercial growth, stronger institutional relations, and restoring the national team’s competitiveness ahead of upcoming international deadlines.