Italy are set to visit Moldova for their upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifying match on Thursday, with a win essential to maintain their chances of direct qualification.
Though the Azzurri have already secured a place in the playoffs, they still have a mathematical opportunity to top Group I should they deliver commanding performances against Moldova and Norway.
Italy XI vs Moldova – Predicted lineup and team news
Italy team news
Gennaro Gattuso has named a 27-man roster for the fixtures against Moldova and Norway. He has indicated plans to rotate the starting lineup and give game time to those with fewer minutes.
“For the Moldova match, we’ll field players who haven’t played much, but our focus remains on our own performance rather than Norway’s,” Gattuso noted in his pre-match press briefing.
Suspended for this game due to a yellow card received against Israel in October, Nicolò Barella will be absent. Also unavailable is Fiorentina forward Moise Kean, who has been prolific with six goals in his last four appearances but is sidelined after suffering an injury at his club. In Kean’s stead, Bologna winger Nicolò Cambiaghi has earned a call-up. Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa has once again opted out of the squad, citing ongoing fitness issues.
Giacomo Raspadori sustained a minor injury during Italy’s first training session and awaits evaluation ahead of the match. Conversely, Gianluca Scamacca is back in the squad after recovering from a muscle problem that kept him out of September’s games, bolstering Gattuso’s attacking options.
The squad also welcomes back Alessandro Buongiorno and Samuele Ricci, returning after breaks since March and June respectively. Goalkeeper Elia Caprile, impressing with his form at Cagliari in the 2025/26 Serie A season, has been called up to the national team for the first time.
Notably, Andrea Cambiaso, Davide Frattesi, and Sandro Tonali each stand one booking away from suspension, making it crucial they avoid yellow cards to be available for the pivotal clash against Norway scheduled for Sunday.
Italy predicted lineup
Possible Italy starting XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni, Dimarco; Cristante, Locatelli, Tonali; Orsolini, Retegui, Zaccagni
When will the match kick off?
The match will kick off at 7:45pm BST on Thursday, 13th November.
How to watch Moldova vs Italy?
Fans in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the game live on Prime Video UK.
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