Mancini eager for ‘new adventure’ on Italy return

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Roberto Mancini has returned as head coach of the Italy national football team and will lead a youthful 34-man squad in the upcoming Nations League matches starting against Belgium. His objective is to rebuild the team’s strength and competitiveness after Italy's failure to qualify for the last World Cup and their ongoing struggles in major tournaments.

Roberto Mancini has expressed enthusiasm for his return as head coach of the Italy national football team, ahead of the squad's opening Nations League match against Belgium on Friday. This marks Mancini’s second tenure with the Azzurri, who he previously led to victory at the Euro 2020 tournament.

Mancini’s initial spell as Italy coach ended after the team failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a first for the four-time world champions in over six decades. Following this disappointment, Mancini resigned in 2023 and subsequently took charge of the Saudi Arabia national team. Italy have now missed the last three World Cups and have not advanced past the group stage since their 2006 World Cup final defeat to France.

Speaking at a press conference in Covenriciano, Italy, Mancini framed his return as a fresh challenge and a new chapter in his career. “We must not dwell on negative things,” he said. “When you embark on a new adventure, you’re eager to do something special, and over the next four years we’ll bring home something special.” Mancini emphasized that winning remains the shared objective for both himself and the team.

For his latest campaign, Mancini has assembled a 34-man squad featuring a significant number of young players, including nine first-time call-ups. Among the newcomers are 18-year-old goalkeeper Massimo Pessina from Bologna, 22-year-old right-back Michael Kayode of Brentford, and Aston Villa’s left-back Matteo Ruggeri, who replaced the injured Federico Dimarco. Mancini expressed confidence in the youngsters, noting that their inclusion is part of a longer-term strategy to build a strong team moving forward.

“I expect them to bring a carefree attitude,” Mancini said. “We need to understand who can stay with us for this cycle, and with that goal in mind, I’ve called up a larger group for the four matches we have coming up in such quick succession.”

Italy’s upcoming fixtures include the opening home game against Belgium in Rome, followed by an away match versus Turkiye in Bursa three days later, then a clash with France at the Stade de France on October 2, and finally Turkey again in Bologna on October 5. These matches mark the beginning of Mancini’s effort to restore Italy’s status on the international stage after recent setbacks.

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