Italy restart their push for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification against Estonia on September 5.
Gennaro Gattuso's team have been placed in a five-team qualifying pool with six games split across September, October and November in Group I.
After not reaching the UEFA Nations League finals this year, the four-time winners started their campaign in June under former boss Luciano Spalletti.
Spalletti lost his opening qualifier on the road in Norway before bouncing back with a 2-0 home victory against Moldova.
Those results ultimately were not enough for Spalletti to keep his job, with Gattuso appointed as his successor ahead of a crucial run of games on the back of failing to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
MORE: Updated list of teams qualified for 2026 FIFA World Cup
Italy vs. Estonia lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest
Gattuso has an eye-catching squad to pick from including recent Manchester City arrival Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The giant No.1 will captain Italy once again and likely start alongside fellow Premier League stars Riccardo Calafiori and Sandro Tonali.
Serie A-based players make up the majority of Gattuso's panel including Inter Milan trio Nicolo Barella, Alssandro Bastoni and Davide Frattesi.
Gianluca Scamacca withdrew due to a persistent knee issue. New Liverpool signing Giovanni Leoni, Bologna midfielder Giovanni Fabbian, and Inter youngster Francesco Pio are all with the senior squad for the first time.
Italy predicted starting lineup (3-5-2, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori — Cambiaso, Frattesi, Barella, Tonali, Dimarco — Raspadori, Retegui
Italy full roster
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Guglielmo Vicario, Alex Meret, Marco Carnesecchi
Defenders: Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, Gianluca Mancini, Riccardo Calafiori, Andrea Cambiaso, Federico Gatti, Raoul Bellanova, Giovanni Leoni
Midfielders: Nicolo Barella, Manuel Locatelli, Davide Frattesi, Sanro Tonali, Nicolo Rovella, Giovanni Fabbian
Forwards: Giacomo Raspadori, Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui, Matteo Politano, Mattia Zaccagni, Riccardo Orsolini, Daniel Maldini, Francesco Pio.
Estonia's slim qualification chances may already be over following two losses to Israel and one to Norway across four qualifiers.
Jurgen Henn's squad are majority based in Estonia with Arsenal goalkeeper Karl Hein the standout name.
Captain Karol Mets and Alex Matthias Tamm are both missing due to injury, with Karel Eerme hoping for a senior debut in this window.
Estonia predicted starting XI (4-5-1, right to left): Hein (GK) — Schjonning-Larsen, Paskotsi, Ruusk, Saliste — Kait, Palumets, Shein, Soomets, Sinyavskiy — Sappinen
Estonia full roster
Goalkeepers: Karl Hein, Matvei Igonen, Karl Andre Vallner
Defenders: Marten Kuusk, Joseph Saliste, Rasmus Peetson, Maksim Paskotsi, Joonas Tamm, Michael Schjonning-Larsen, Tanel Tammik, Edgar Tur
Midfielders: Mattias Kait, Rocco Robert Shein, Markus Soomets, Ioan Yakolev, Kevor Palumets, Mihkel Ainsalu, Patrik Kristal, Martin Miller, Vlasiy Sinyavskiy
Forwards: Robi Saarma, Henri Anier, Rauno Sappinen, Karel Eerme.
Italy vs. Estonia match details
- Date: Friday, September 5, 2025
- Kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m. PT / 4:45 a.m. AEST (Sep. 6)
- Location: Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo (Italy)
- Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
- Referee: Joao Pinheiro (POR)