Italy have announced a 28-player squad for the European play-offs, as the Azzurri look to avoid missing out on a third consecutive FIFA World Cup™. Head coach Gennaro Gattuso’s side will face Northern Ireland on March 26 in Bergamo in the Path A semi-final. Should they advance, they will travel to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31. The winner of that Path A final will secure a place at the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Kean Returns in Form
Moise Kean, who missed Italy’s last three matches due to injury, returns to the fold in strong form, having scored three times in his last five Serie A appearances for Fiorentina. Prior to his injury, Kean had netted six goals in four games for the Azzurri. He is currently the joint-highest scorer in the squad, with 11 goals in 24 caps.
New Faces and Tactical Shifts
Young wing-back Marco Palestra has impressed at Cagliari with his power and two-footed ability. First-time call-ups have also been handed to Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini and Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli.
Although Gattuso initially favoured a four-man defence, the form of Federico Dimarco, Riccardo Calafiori, and Sandro Tonali makes a 3-5-2 system more likely. The inclusion of Nicolò Cambiaghi, Francesco Pio Esposito, Kean, and Mateo Retegui further points toward a two-striker setup.
Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa had initially been included in the squad after nearly two years away from the Azzurri setup, but was later ruled out due to fitness concerns. He has been replaced by Bologna’s Cambiaghi. (Source: fifa.com)
Goalkeepers
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Elia Caprile | Cagliari |
| Marco Carnesecchi | Atalanta |
| Gianluigi Donnarumma | Manchester City |
| Alex Meret | Napoli |
Defenders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Alessandro Bastoni | Inter |
| Alessandro Buongiorno | Napoli |
| Riccardo Calafiori | Arsenal |
| Andrea Cambiaso | Juventus |
| Diego Coppola | Paris FC |
| Federico Dimarco | Inter |
| Federico Gatti | Juventus |
| Gianluca Mancini | Roma |
| Marco Palestra | Cagliari |
| Giorgio Scalvini | Atalanta |
| Leonardo Spinazzola | Napoli |
Midfielders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Nicolò Barella | Inter |
| Bryan Cristante | Roma |
| Davide Frattesi | Inter |
| Manuel Locatelli | Juventus |
| Niccolò Pisilli | Roma |
| Sandro Tonali | Newcastle |
Forwards
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Nicolò Cambiaghi | Bologna |
| Francesco Pio Esposito | Inter |
| Moise Kean | Fiorentina |
| Matteo Politano | Napoli |
| Giacomo Raspadori | Atalanta |
| Mateo Retegui | Al-Qadsiah |
| Gianluca Scamacca | Atalanta |
Rosa dell’Italia per i Mondiali del 2026
Italy’s last World Cup match came at Brazil 2014 against Uruguay a remarkable drought for a nation that has won the FIFA World Cup four times and appeared in 18 editions.
In qualifying for the following two tournaments, the Azzurri were eliminated in the play-offs on both occasions. In November 2017, Sweden broke Italian hearts with a 1-0 first-leg win followed by a 0-0 draw at San Siro. During qualifying for Qatar 2022, Italy fell at the first play-off hurdle, losing to North Macedonia in Path C after a last-gasp goal from Aleksandar Trajkovski.
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