UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Sandro Tonali of Italy warms up prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Italy start Francesco Pio Esposito, Moise Kean, Alessandro Romano and Sandro Tonali in Roberto Mancini’s first game back, as they host Kevin De Bruyne’s Belgium in the Nations League opener.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from the game on the Liveblog.
These sides are in Nations League Group A along with France and Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye.
Mancini won the EURO 2020 tournament and controversially walked away in August 2023, but returned after disappointing spells under Luciano Spalletti and Gennaro Gattuso, plus caretaker Silvio Baldini.
Alessandro Bastoni is suspended, with Federico Dimarco, Marco Palestra and Bryan Cristante injured, while Nicolò Zaniolo was also ruled out by fitness issues for this game.
It’s set to be a 4-3-3 formation with Riccardo Calafiori for the first time replicating his Arsenal role at left-back rather than central defence, and Diego Coppola preferred to Giorgio Scalvini.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s presence at right-back means Italy can shift to a 3-5-2 when needed, with Nicolò Cambiaghi on the other side.
Romano makes his Azzurri debut in midfield, having switched allegiance from Switzerland, flanked by Tonali and Nicolò Barella.
Kean and Pio Esposito start together upfront rather than battling for the same spot, with Sebastiano Esposito on the bench.
Belgium are also making their debut under a new coach, former Milan midfielder Van Bommel, who hasn’t been on a touchline since 2024.
He brings the classic Dutch 4-3-3 formation to the job, and can rely on plenty of current and former Serie A talent.
Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku and Andre Onana are out injured, with Thibaut Courtois left out for this run of games by mutual consent.
Milan defender Koni De Winter, Kyriani Sabbe and Malick Fofana are also sent to the stands.
Napoli midfielder De Bruyne and Atalanta forward Charles De Ketelaere start, with Mika Godts shifting Milan summer signing Diego Moreira over to the right in place of Dodi Lukebakio.
Bologna defender Arthur Theate and Parma midfielder Mandela Keita are on the bench, with ex-Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku and Juventus-owned Lois Openda.
Italy vs. Belgium official line-ups
Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Coppola, Calafiori; Barella, Romano, Tonali; Kean, P Esposito, Cambiaghi
Italy bench: Carnesecchi, Vicario, Kayode, Ahanor, Raspadori, Scamacca, Mandragora, Doumbia, Frattesi, Zoma, Scalvini, Maldini
Belgium: Lammens; Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper; Raskin, De Bruyne, Tielemans; Moreira, De Ketelaere, Godts
Belgium bench: Vandervoort, De Busser, Debast, Theate, Lavia, Lukaku, Openda, Lukebakio, Keita, Seys, Vanaken, Fernandez-Pardo
Ref: Siebert (GER)
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