Rome begins Roberto Mancini’s second spell with Italy looking ahead to a demanding September run in the 2026/27 Nations League, a four-match opening sequence that will bring Belgium, Turkey and France into the Azzurri’s immediate view. Mancini has named a 34-player squad for his first camp since returning, while Flamengo midfielder Jorginho has missed the final selection after appearing in the preliminary group.
A return shaped by Italy’s reset
Mancini is back in charge after Italy’s failure to reach a third successive World Cup, returning to a post he previously held from 2018 until 2023. His first tenure delivered the Euro 2021 title and a 37-game unbeaten run, the longest recorded by a national team.
His appointment is part of a wider reshaping of the Italian football structure. Claudio Ranieri has also taken up a new role within the Italian federation, working alongside Mancini in the coordination of the national-team technical department.
- Italy will compete in Nations League Group A with France, Belgium and Turkey.
- The leading two teams in the group qualify automatically for the quarter-finals.
- The side finishing third must enter a playoff to retain its place in the competition’s top division.
- Italy open at home against Belgium on 25 September, with kick-off set for 15:45 Brazilian time.
- The Azzurri then travel to Turkey and France before hosting Turkey in the fourth fixture.
Jorginho left outside final squad
The most notable omission is Jorginho. The Flamengo midfielder had been included in the initial wider group but did not make Mancini’s final party for the first four Nations League matches.
The selected group draws players from across Italy and Europe, with Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Inter pair Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolò Barella, Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori, Tottenham midfielder Sandro Tonali and Borussia Dortmund forward Inacio among those called.
Italy squad for the Nations League opener
Goalkeepers
- Carnesecchi (Atalanta)
- Donnarumma (Manchester City)
- Pessina (Bologna)
- Vicario (Juventus)
Defenders
- Ahanor (Crystal Palace)
- Bastoni (Inter)
- Calafiori (Arsenal)
- Coppola (Paris FC)
- Di Lorenzo (Napoli)
- Dimarco (Inter)
- Ghilardi (Roma)
- Kayode (Brentford)
- Kouadio (Monza)
- Mancini (Roma)
- Scalvini (Atalanta)
Midfielders
- Barella (Inter)
- Cristante (Roma)
- Doumbia (Sporting)
- Fagioli (Fiorentina)
- Frattesi (Lazio)
- Mandragora (Torino)
- Romano (Cagliari)
- Tonali (Tottenham)
Forwards
- Cambiaghi (Bologna)
- Pio Esposito (Inter)
- S. Esposito (Sassuolo)
- Inacio (Borussia Dortmund)
- Kean (Como)
- Maldini (Cagliari)
- Raspadori (Atalanta)
- Scamacca (Atalanta)
- Vergara (Napoli)
- Zaniolo (Udinese)
- Zoma (Nürnberg)
