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UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Mateo Retegui of Italy celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during 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)
The World Cup play-offs are just around the corner, and Football Italia names 12 players who are expected to be part of the Azzurri squad later this month.
The time has almost come for Italy to face its demons in the World Cup play-off, with the Azzurri chasing their first qualification to the tournament since 2014.
Next week, coach Gennaro Gattuso will name his squad for the semi-final against Northern Ireland and, hopefully, the final against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina. But which players have a guaranteed spot in the team? Let’s find out.
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ByLorenzo Bettoni
Lorenzo Bettoni is the Editor of Football Italia.
