Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has named a 28-man squad for the World Cup play-off, with Federico Chiesa returning while Guglielmo Vicario is omitted.
The FIGC confirmed the squad on Friday, with Chiesa earning his first call-up since 2024. His last appearance came in Italy’s Euro 2024 Round of 16 clash against Switzerland.
Sandro Tonali is included despite picking up an injury in Newcastle’s Champions League match against Barcelona, with tests ruling out a serious muscle issue.
Cagliari’s Marco Palestra receives his first senior call-up, while Gattuso has selected Elia Caprile, Marco Carnesecchi, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alex Meret as his goalkeepers.
Italy face North Macedonia in the play-off semi-final on March 26, with a potential final against Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31.
Below is the full squad:
Goalkeepers: Elia Caprile (Cagliari), Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Alex Meret (Napoli);
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Marco Palestra (Cagliari), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Leonardo Spinazzola (Napoli);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);
Attackers: Federico Chiesa (Liverpool), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta).
The #Azzurri squad for the World Cup play-offs 📋#VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/spL2Zq1drn
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) March 20, 2026
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