Anticipation in Calabria is rising as Italy aim to secure a place in the European Championship finals. The Stadio Nicola Ceravolo in Catanzaro and the Stadio San Vito-Gigi Marulla in Cosenza will host the Under-19 national team from 25 to 31 March for the elite qualifying round, which secures a place in the finals scheduled from 28 June to 11 July in Wales. For Italy’s Under 19, this trip will be their first back to Calabria after their last Elite Round a year ago, when the team coached by Alberto Bollini narrowly missed out on first place in a very tough group featuring Spain, France, and Latvia. This year, Italy’s opponents will be Hungary, Slovakia, and Turkey, in the second and decisive stage of qualification, following the round played last November in Sicily between Catania and Acireale.

Italy will kick-off campaign on Wednesday, 25, in Catanzaro against Hungary, before returning to the Ceravolo on Tuesday 31, to take on Turkey. On Saturday, 28, they are scheduled to play Slovakia in Cosenza. The Real Cosenza sports centre will host the other three Group 6 matches that don’t feature Italy. Kick-off times, stadium access arrangements, and media accreditation procedures will be released in the coming days. The venue for the second round of qualification for the Under-17 European Championship will soon be confirmed, too. Italy will host this stage from 25 to 31 March, at the same time as the Under-19 team’s matches in Calabria.

Last year, a total of 12,024 spectators attended Italy’s three matches in Crotone and Catanzaro, part of Calabria, which will once again be lit up in the Italian Azzurro this March. The excitement will be heightened by the Azzurre’s fixture on Tuesday, 3 March (18:15 CET) in Reggio Calabria against Sweden, in their opening match of the qualification campaign for the 2027 World Cup.