Italy trains under Mancini for the first time today

Italy coach Roberto Mancini held a press conference today and began the Azzurri’s preparations for Friday’s Nations League game against Belgium. Mancini’s second spell as Italy head coach officially got underway today, with the 61-year-old leading his first training session at Coverciano.

Mancini called 34 players, including nine potential debutants, for the upcoming four Nations League games, which will span over two weeks. He spoke to the press, including Football Italia, at 14:00 CET [13:00 BST] during a press conference where he explained his call-ups and his vision for La Nazionale’s long-term future. In July 2026, Mancini returned for a second stint as Italy’s head coach after resigning in August 2023. He signed a four-year contract until 2030.

Later today, at 17:00 CET [16:00 BST], Mancini oversaw Italy’s first training session of the international break, marking his first since his return to Coverciano. Mancini’s first match is on Friday, September 25, against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, in the opening round of the Nations League Group A. Italy will then visit Turkey on September 28 and France on October 2. The last game of the break is on October 5, still against Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey, but this time at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna.