Mancini returns to lead Italy after three World Cup absences
The coach who guided Italy to Euro 2020 begins a second spell with a squad reported to include nine uncapped players and 11 under-23s.
Roberto Mancini has returned as Italy head coach, taking charge of a national side seeking to recover from three consecutive failures to qualify for the World Cup. He previously led Italy to the Euro 2020 title.
Sky Sports reports that Mancini’s first squad back is a 34-player roster, including nine uncapped players and 11 players under 23. The selection points to a greater role for younger talent, though it does not establish how the team’s longer-term rebuilding will progress.
Italy’s recent record provides the backdrop. According to Sky Sports, the country’s last appearance in a World Cup knockout match was in 2006. The outlet also cites CIES Football Observatory figures showing Italy produced 413 football exports between 2020 and 2025, ranking 24th globally.
Captain Gianluigi Donnarumma told Sky Sports that the team must work to restore Italy’s standing and help younger players integrate. He described the squad as a mix of established and very young players.
Italy’s Nations League group includes Belgium, Turkey and France, according to the report. The group will test Mancini’s returning side as it begins its next phase under his leadership.
