Italy: Mancini calls up nine newcomers after World Cup 2026 failure
In his first squad since returning to lead Italy, Roberto Mancini has called up nine uncapped players in a group of 34 to launch the Nations League.
Roberto Mancini has called up nine uncapped players in a squad of 34 for Italy’s first four matches in the Nations League. This list, published on Friday, September 18, marks the coach’s first selection since returning to lead the Azzurri following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Massimo Pessina, Daniele Ghilardi, Michael Kayode, Eddy Kouadio, Issa Doumbia, Alessandro Romano, Sebastiano Esposito, Antonio Vergara, and Mohamed Alì Zoma are set to make their debut in the senior national team. The Italian Football Federation presents these nine players as the new faces of this gathering.
Italy will kick off its Nations League campaign against Belgium on September 25 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. They will then travel to Turkey on September 28, followed by a match in France on October 2, before hosting Turkey again on October 5 in Bologna.
Mancini has also recalled Nicolò Fagioli and Nicolò Zaniolo, whose last appearances for the national team were in October 2024. Rolando Mandragora returns for the first time since March 2021, while Honest Ahanor and Samuele Inacio, who were already called up for the friendly matches in June, remain in the squad.
The coach is also relying on several key players, including Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolò Barella, and Sandro Tonali. In attack, Moise Kean, Giacomo Raspadori, Gianluca Scamacca, and Francesco Pio Esposito are among those selected.
The training camp will begin on Sunday in Coverciano, with the first training session scheduled for Monday, September 21. The match against Belgium will mark the start of a series of four matches in eleven days for Italy.
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