Official: Gattuso names 27-man Italy squad list for October World Cup qualifiers

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Coach Gennaro Gattuso of Italy gesture during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Gennaro Gattuso has named his 27-man Italy squad for games against Estonia and Israel, giving Fiorentina’s Hans Nicolussi Caviglia and Bologna’s Nicolò Cambiaghi their first senior call-ups.

The FIGC has released Gattuso’s 27-man squad list for the upcoming games against Israel and Estonia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The Azzurri will visit Estonia in Tallinn on Saturday, October 11 and then host Israel on October 14 at the Stadio Friuli in Udine.

Gabbia and Cristante return

Milan defender Matteo Gabbia and Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante return to the national team for the first time in a year. Gabbia has not played for the Azzurri since October last year, while Cristante has been absent since June 2024.

Bologna’s Cambiaghi and Fiorentina’s Nicolussi Caviglia have been called up for the first time.

Gattuso made his debut as Italy coach in September, beating Estonia at home 5-0 and securing a narrow 5-4 victory against Israel away.

The Azzurri sit second in Group I, level on nine points with Israel but with a game in hand.

Italy squad list for games against Estonia and Israel in October

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham);

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Diego Coppola (Brighton & Hove Albion), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Matteo Gabbia (Milan), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham);

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Hans Nicolussi Caviglia (Fiorentina), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);

Strikers: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atletico Madrid), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio).