The four-time champion will miss its third consecutive tournament after a shocking loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the UEFA play-offs in midweek. The Azzurri lost 4-1 on penalties in the second leg after a 1-1 draw in Zenica.

Italy, which was last part of a FIFA World Cup finals in 2014, will now go at least 16 years between appearances.

Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina and head of delegation Gianluigi Buffon had both already resigned.

"With a heavy heart, and having failed to achieve the goal we had set ourselves, I consider my experience on the national team bench to be over," Gattuso, 48, said.

Reports suggested Italy's chiefs wanted him to take charge of two more games, with the Azzurri set to play a pair of friendlies in June.

"The Azzurri shirt is the most precious thing in football, and for this reason it is right to facilitate future technical decisions immediately," Gattuso continued.

"I would like to thank president Gabriele Gravina and Gianluigi Buffon, as well as all the federation staff, for the trust and support they have always given me.

"It has been an honour to lead the national team, and to do so with a group of players who have shown commitment and a strong attachment to the shirt.

"But my biggest thanks go to the fans, to all Italians who over these months have never failed to show their love and support for the national team. Always with blue in my heart."

Gattuso, who was part of Italy's most recent FIFA World Cup playing squad in 2006, took over as coach in 2025, replacing Luciano Spalletti.

Having also missed the tournaments in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, Italy is the first former champion to miss three straight FIFA World Cups.