Italy announce squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Estonia & Israel; Moise Kean called up

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :October 6, 2025 at 11:56 PM

Modified at :October 6, 2025 at 11:56 PM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

Gli Azzurri are second in Group I of the European World Cup qualifiers.

Hans Nicolussi Caviglia of Fiorentina and Nicolò Cambiaghi of Bologna have received their first senior call-ups as Gennaro Gattuso announced his 27-man Italy team for matches against Estonia and Israel.

The Azzurri will play Israel at the Stadio Friuli in Udine on October 14 after visiting Estonia in Tallinn on Saturday, October 11.

For the first time in a year, AC Milan defender Matteo Gabbia and AS Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante are back with the national squad.

Cristante hasn’t played for the Azzurri since June 2024, and Gabbia hasn’t since October of last year. Cambiaghi of Bologna and Nicolussi Caviglia of Fiorentina have both received their first call-ups.

In September, Gattuso made his managerial debut for Italy, defeating Estonia 5-0 at home and narrowly defeating Israel 5-4 on the road.

The Azzurri are tied with Israel on nine points and in second place in Group I, while Norway are in first place with 15 points.

Italy squad for the October international break

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Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham);

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Diego Coppola (Brighton & Hove Albion), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Matteo Gabbia (Milan), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham);

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Hans Nicolussi Caviglia (Fiorentina), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);

Strikers: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atletico Madrid), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Roberto Piccoli (Fiorentina).

How many games have Italy won so far in the qualifiers?

They have won three out of four matches.

Where do they stand in the group?

They are second with nine points, six points behind Norway.

Who has received their first senior call-ups?

Hans Nicolussi Caviglia of Fiorentina and Nicolò Cambiaghi of Bologna have received their first senior call-ups.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.