The Italian national football team has entered a sweeping transition phase ahead of the upcoming international fixtures, with head coach Roberto Mancini naming a 34-man squad featuring nine debutants for the UEFA Nations League 2026–2027 campaign. According to reports from major Italian sports dailies, the roster blends experienced veterans with an unprecedented influx of fresh talent following the team’s absence from recent global tournaments.
A Massive Influx of New Faces for a Gruelling Schedule
Facing a demanding stretch of four matches across an 11-day window, the technical staff opted for an expanded squad. Outlets including La Gazzetta dello Sport and La Repubblica noted that nine players have received their first-ever senior call-ups to the Azzurri setup. The group blends emerging prospects from both Serie A and foreign leagues as the federation looks to rebuild its competitive foundation.
The nine uncapped players named in the squad are:
- Massimo Pessina (Goalkeeper, Bologna)
- Daniele Ghilardi (Defender, Roma)
- Michael Kayode (Defender, Brentford)
- Eddy Kouadio (Defender, Monza)
- Alessandro Romano (Midfielder, Cagliari)
- Issa Doumbia (Midfielder, Sporting CP)
- Sebastiano Esposito (Forward, Sassuolo)
- Antonio Vergara (Forward, Napoli)
- Mohamed Alì Zoma (Forward, Nürnberg)
Alongside these newcomers, the roster also accommodates notable returns for players seeking to re-establish their international careers, including Nicolò Fagioli, Nicolò Zaniolo, and Rolando Mandragora, as reported by Il Giornale.
Behind the Scenes: Leadership and Staff Changes
Beyond the pitch, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has implemented notable structural adjustments. According to Il Giornale, Diana Bianchedi has been officially appointed as the new head delegation leader for the national team, marking the first time a woman has held the prestigious role. The appointment accompanies a broader administrative push to steady the federation’s operations after consecutive missed World Cups.
The Complete Squad Breakdown
The 34 selected players represent a wide geographic spread across domestic and European clubs. The full roster announced by the technical staff includes:
- Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Massimo Pessina (Bologna), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus).
- Defenders: Selected options include Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), and Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta).
- Midfielders: Included in the selection are Bryan Cristante (Roma), Nicolò Barella (Inter), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham), and Rolando Mandragora (Torino).
- Forwards: The attacking group features Moise Kean (Como), Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Daniel Maldini (Cagliari), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Nicolò Zaniolo (Udinese), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), and Mohamed Alì Zoma (Nürnberg).
Upcoming Fixtures and Match Schedule
The Azzurri are scheduled to gather at the Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano on Sunday evening, with their first training session slated for Monday morning, according to Il Giornale. The autumn Nations League schedule features four high-stakes encounters:
- Friday, September 25: Italy vs. Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
- Monday, September 28: Turkey vs. Italy at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi in Bursa.
- Friday, October 2: France vs. Italy at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
- Monday, October 5: Italy vs. Turkey at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in Bologna.
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