Giorgio Chiellini spoke at the opening panel of the Festival della Serie A in Parma, Emilia-Romagna, earlier this month.
The event brought together football executives and fans to discuss the current state of the sport in Italy. Chiellini's reflections on the national team's recent failures highlight the psychological toll and the perceived need for a systemic reset within Italian football.
The three-day event [3] took place from June 5 to 7, 2026 [1], at "La Sport Valley" [2]. This year marked the third edition [3] of the festival, which aims to engage the public and bridge the gap between professional administration, and the fanbase.
Chiellini, who now serves as the Director of Football Strategy for Juventus, addressed the disappointment of Italy missing multiple World Cups. He spoke about the weight of these failures on the players and the sport's culture.
"Due Mondiali mancati su tre me li sento addosso," Chiellini said. "Speriamo di aver toccato il fondo" [4].
Organizers designed the festival to emphasize the accessibility of the game to the general public. The event featured panels on strategy, and the social impact of football in the region.
De Siervo, an organizer, emphasized the core philosophy of the gathering during the proceedings. "Il calcio è della gente," De Siervo said [5].
The festival serves as a platform for the league to gauge public sentiment and discuss the future of the game. By hosting the event in Parma, the league focused on the regional heartland of Italian football—a move intended to reinforce the connection between the sport and its community.
“"Due Mondiali mancati su tre me li sento addosso. Speriamo di aver toccato il fondo."”
Chiellini's comments reflect a broader crisis of identity for the Italian national team after missing consecutive World Cups. By framing the current state as having 'hit rock bottom,' he suggests that the traditional methods of Italian football are no longer effective, signaling a potential shift toward the strategic modernization he is now tasked with implementing at Juventus.
