Italy World Cup 2026 Squad
Gli Azzurri Return
After the humiliation of missing the 2022 World Cup entirely and exiting Euro 2024 in the round of 16, Italy arrive at North America 2026 with a squad rebuilt around Donnarumma, Barella and the prodigal return of Sandro Tonali. The Azzurri have unfinished business.
From Disgrace to WC2026 — The Azzurri Rebuild
November 2021: Italy's 0–0 draw with Northern Ireland confirmed the unthinkable — the four-time world champions would miss Qatar 2022. For a nation that won the Euros only months earlier, the play-off defeat to North Macedonia in March 2022 compounded the pain into national crisis. It was, without question, the darkest moment in Italian football history.
Mancini resigned in August 2023 and Luciano Spalletti took charge, tasked with a generational reset. Euro 2024 provided a brief glimpse of hope before Switzerland ended the tournament defence in the round of 16. The squad, though, is younger and hungrier. By 2026, Italy's new wave — Barella in his prime, a fit Federico Chiesa, a reborn Tonali — will have had four years of international football under their belts.
The 2026 World Cup is not just another tournament for Italy. It is a statement of return. Gli Azzurri do not simply want to qualify — they want to win it.
Gianluigi Donnarumma — The Last Line
Gianluigi Donnarumma is simply the best goalkeeper in the world. His Euro 2020 Player of the Tournament award was fully deserved — he saved three penalties in the shoot-out win over England at Wembley, cementing his status as one of the greatest shot-stoppers of his generation. At PSG he has matured into a commanding, sweeper-keeper-style goalkeeper.
At 27 during the 2026 tournament, Donnarumma will be at the absolute peak of his powers. With his 198cm frame and extraordinary reflexes, he gives Italy a foundation that most nations simply cannot match.
Italy's Expected 2026 World Cup Squad
Sandro Tonali — The Prodigal Return
Sandro Tonali's story is one of Italian football's most remarkable redemption arcs. After moving to Newcastle United for £52 million in 2023, he was handed a 10-month ban by the Football Association for breaching betting rules. The ban covered international football too — stripping Italy of their best midfield enforcer at a critical period.
He returned in October 2024, and within weeks it was clear the fire had only grown stronger. Tonali does what few modern midfielders can — he defends with ferocity, drives forward with energy, and chips in with goals at crucial moments. At 26 in 2026, this will be his defining tournament.
Italy's Probable WC2026 XI — 3-4-3
Luciano Spalletti's Italy
Luciano Spalletti, the architect of Napoli's historic 2022-23 Scudetto, has taken the Italy job with a clear brief: modernise without losing defensive solidity. His preferred 3-4-3 gives Italy width through attacking wing-backs like Dimarco and Cambiaso, while Barella and Tonali provide the box-to-box energy behind.
The Italian football philosophy — patience, structure, clinical finishing — is still there. But Spalletti demands high pressing, quick transitions, and more goals from midfield. Under his system, Italy are harder to break down than any team in Europe while carrying a genuine threat going forward.
What Makes Italy Dangerous
-
●
Defensive solidityThree centre-backs gives Italy protection against pace. Bastoni reads the game better than almost any defender in Europe.
-
●
Wing-back dynamismDimarco and Cambiaso are two of the best wide players in Serie A — they give Italy width and crossing ability in abundance.
-
●
Midfield controlBarella + Tonali is among the best central midfield partnerships at the 2026 tournament. They win duels, drive forward and contribute goals.
-
●
Set-piece threatItaly's height and technique at corners and free-kicks makes them dangerous from dead-ball situations every game.
Italy's Path Through North America
The 2026 World Cup spans three host nations — USA, Canada and Mexico — with matches spread across 16 stadiums. Italy's group stage fixtures are expected to be concentrated on the US East Coast, where Italian-American communities are enormous, particularly in the New York/New Jersey area.
MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey) seats over 82,000 and is slated to host the final. Italy playing in front of a partisan New York crowd — where Italian heritage runs deep — could be one of the defining images of the tournament.
Can Italy Win the 2026 World Cup?
✓ The Case For
- • Best goalkeeper in the world in Donnarumma — could single-handedly win a shoot-out.
- • Barella + Tonali is arguably the best defensive midfield pairing in the tournament.
- • Italian football thrives under tournament pressure — they have won the World Cup four times.
- • Hunger and motivation after the 2022 embarrassment is unlike anything in Italian football history.
✗ The Concerns
- • A genuine world-class striker is missing — Italy have struggled to find a reliable centre-forward since Luca Toni.
- • Federico Chiesa's fitness is always a concern — he has missed significant time with knee injuries.
- • They face France, Spain, England, Brazil and others who are equally — or more — well-equipped in attack.
- • Italy's qualification has sometimes been nervy — the squad is not yet consistently dominant.
Verdict: Italy are genuine contenders but not favourites. If they stay healthy and Tonali and Barella perform at their peak, a run to the semi-finals is absolutely realistic. Going all the way requires things to break their way — but Italy in a knockout tournament, with their defensive structure and Donnarumma between the posts, is never to be underestimated.
Latest Italy & WC2026 News
Cesc Fabregas involved in heated spat with Serie A boss as manager refuses to shake ex-Arsenal star's hand over 'disrespectful behaviour' after Como win
· Daily Mail
Lazio vs. AC Milan: Live updates and commentary from the Serie A clash
· Sempre Milan
Gallery: ‘Leao, angry at the substitution’, ‘A gift to Inter’ – Today’s front pages in Italy
· Sempre Milan
Tottenham preparing shock SWAP deal for Serie A maestro amid financial ‘Armageddon’ threat
· TeamTalk
Serie A star locked up by armed robbers in terrifying raid on his house as thugs steal Rolex and designer handbags
· The Sun
Where Milan’s Emirates deal rank among Serie A rivals including Inter and Juventus
· Sempre Milan
Where Milan’s Emirates deal ranks among Serie A rivals including Inter and Juventus
· Sempre Milan
Cesc Fabregas involved in heated spat with Serie A boss as manager refuses to shake ex-Arsenal star's hand over 'disrespectful behaviour' after Como win
· Daily Mail