Venue: Stadio Olimpico
Local Kick-off Time: Sep 25, 2026 7.45pm
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Italy
Navigating Heartbreak: Mancini Returns to Steady the Ship
Following yet another catastrophic World Cup qualifying failure, fallen giants Italy are embarking on a profound restructuring process after missing out on a third consecutive World Cup through the dreaded playoffs. Having been comfortably beaten to top spot in their qualifying group by Norway, the Azzurri overcame Northern Ireland in the semi-finals before succumbing to Bosnia-Herzegovina in a dramatic penalty shootout. The four-time world champions have not stepped onto football’s global showpiece since 2014, and Gennaro Gattuso subsequently paid the price with his dismissal.
Following a brief interim stint under youth coach Silvio Baldini—who oversaw 1-0 post-season friendly victories against Luxembourg and Greece with an experimental squad—and with Andrea Pirlo falling by the wayside, the Italian FA determined that a proven, stabilizing hand was necessary. Three years after departing La Nazionale for Saudi Arabia, Euro 2020-winning tactician Roberto Mancini has returned to the bench to guide his homeland toward the upcoming European Championship.
Squad Renewal & Projected Setup
Mancini has embraced a forward-looking selection strategy, naming an expansive 34-man roster that features an unprecedented 10 players based outside Serie A:
Captaincy & Absentees: The Azzurri will be captained by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who boasts an astonishing 83 senior caps at the age of 27. However, the rearguard is depleted: Alessandro Bastoni serves a suspension, while Federico Dimarco, Bryan Cristante, and Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli are all sidelined through injury.
4-3-3 Attacking Conundrum: Mancini is expected to deploy his trusted 4-3-3 shape. With Mateo Retegui omitted, Moise Kean and Gianluca Scamacca will duel with brothers Sebastiano and Pio Esposito for the central striker berth. Pio Esposito, who has scored five goals in nine international appearances since debuting in qualifying, enters in scintillating form for Inter Milan and is pushing hard for a starting role.
New Faces: The squad features several intriguing inclusions: Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano (who turned down Switzerland to pledge his allegiance to Italy), Brentford wing-back Michael Kayode, and forward Mohamed Ali Zoma, who was plucked from 2. Bundesliga side Nurnberg.
Belgium
Van Bommel’s Daunting Debut & Historic Context
Despite guiding Belgium to the World Cup quarter-finals—where they were edged out in a narrow defeat to eventual champions Spain—Rudi Garcia was relieved of his managerial duties. Former PSV, Wolfsburg, and Antwerp boss Mark van Bommel has stepped into the dugout, facing an intensely demanding schedule over the next fortnight: an away fixture in Italy, two blockbuster clashes against old foes France, and a testing home encounter with Turkey.
Belgium’s historic pedigree in the Nations League remains modest; they have reached the tournament's final four on only one occasion, finishing fourth in 2021. Within that run lies a troubling record against the Azzurri (one draw and two defeats), with Italy claiming victory in four of the sides’ last five meetings across all competitions. Nevertheless, prior to their summer defeat against Spain, the Red Devils were riding an impressive 18-match unbeaten streak, providing Van Bommel with high-caliber raw materials to contend for top spot in Group 1.
Squad Transition & Key Personnel
A gradual changing of the guard is underway across the Belgian camp, though veteran quality remains central to the spine:
Leadership & Pillars: Kevin De Bruyne and all-time record goalscorer Romelu Lukaku remain the focal points in attack, while Manchester United midfielder Youri Tielemans will wear the captain's armband in Milan.
Departures & Goalkeeping Vacuum: Defensive stalwart Axel Witsel has officially retired from international football, Mats Selz has stepped aside, and injury-troubled Thibaut Courtois is taking a sabbatical from national duty. In their absence, a four-way battle between Senne Lammens, Mike Penders, Maarten Vandevoordt, and Jari De Busser will determine who starts between the sticks.
Absentees & Emerging Stars: Long-term World Cup absentee Andre Onana and Leandro Trossard remain sidelined, while Jeremy Doku is left out after returning to club action only last week. However, the squad boasts dynamic young weapons, including Paris Saint-Germain winger Mika Godts (last season's second-top scorer in the Eredivisie), Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia, and Premier League newcomers Malick Fofana and Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
