Italy begin new era with Belgium Nations League test in Rome

Italy and Belgium begin life under new managers when they meet in the opening match of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday.

The Group 1 League A fixture is the first of four matches both sides will play over the next two weeks. France and Turkey make up the rest of the group.

Italy are rebuilding after missing a third successive World Cup. They finished well behind Norway in qualifying, beat Northern Ireland in the play-off semi-final, then lost a dramatic penalty shootout against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The defeat brought Gennaro Gattuso’s time as manager to an end. After a brief interim spell for youth-team coach Silvio Baldini, and Andrea Pirlo withdrawing from consideration, Roberto Mancini was appointed three years after leaving the Nazionale for Saudi Arabia.

Mancini, who guided Italy to European Championship glory in 2020, has included several new faces in a 34-man squad as he begins preparations for the next European Championship. Baldini had previously selected a young side containing several uncapped players for friendly wins against Luxembourg and Greece, both by 1-0.

Italy reached the Nations League quarter-finals in 2025 after making the semi-finals two years earlier. Belgium, by contrast, have progressed beyond the group stage only once, finishing fourth in 2021. Their record against Italy in the competition is one draw and two defeats, while the Azzurri have won four of the teams’ past five meetings.

Belgium have also changed manager. Rudi Garcia was replaced despite taking the side to the World Cup quarter-finals, where they narrowly lost to eventual champions Spain. Former PSV, Wolfsburg and Antwerp manager Mark van Bommel is now in charge.

The Belgian squad is undergoing a gradual renewal, although Kevin De Bruyne and record scorer Romelu Lukaku remain. Belgium had gone 18 matches unbeaten before the loss to Spain, giving Van Bommel a strong basis from which to challenge for top spot.

Italy’s recent form is W-L-W-L-W-W; Belgium’s is D-D-W-W-W-L.

Mancini’s first squad for his second spell contains a record 10 players based outside Serie A and is led by Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has 83 caps at the age of 27. Alessandro Bastoni is suspended, while Federico Dimarco, Bryan Cristante and Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli are injured.

Mateo Retegui was not selected, leaving Moise Kean, Gianluca Scamacca and brothers Sebastiano and Pio Esposito competing for the central striking role. Pio Esposito, who has scored five goals in nine appearances since making his debut in 2026 World Cup qualifying, could start after a strong run of form with Inter Milan.

Other new Italy selections include Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano, who chose the Azzurri over Switzerland, Brentford’s Michael Kayode and Mohamed Ali Zoma of Nurnberg in the 2. Bundesliga.

Belgium could field Paris Saint-Germain winger Mika Godts, last season’s second-highest scorer in the Eredivisie, Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia, and new Premier League arrivals Malick Fofana and Matias Fernandez-Pardo. Manchester United’s Youri Tielemans is expected to captain the side.

Axel Witsel has retired internationally, Matz Sels has stepped back and Thibaut Courtois is taking a break because of injuries. Senne Lammens, Mike Penders, Maarten Vandevoordt and Jari De Busser are competing to start in goal. Andre Onana remains absent with a long-term World Cup injury, while Leandro Trossard is also unavailable and Jeremy Doku was not selected after only returning to action last week.

Probable teams

Italy: Donnarumma; Kayode, Mancini, Scalvini, Calafiori; Barella, Tonali, Frattesi; Inacio, P. Esposito, Raspadori.

Belgium: Lammens; Castagne, De Winter, Theate, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Lavia; Lukebakio, De Bruyne, Godts; Lukaku.

Both teams may take time to settle under new management, making a cautious opening in Rome likely. The recommended predictions are both teams to score and fewer than 4.5 goals at 1.93, Moise Kean to score at 2.53, and Lukaku or Openda to score at 1.75.