After claiming a historic bronze medal at the FIFA U17 World Cup held last November in Qatar, Italy’s U18 national team will begin 2026 with a friendly match against Spain. The game is scheduled for Wednesday 14 January (11:30 CET) at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas.

Head coach Massimiliano Favo has called up 22 players, all born in 2008, with the sole exception of Juventus forward Destiny Onoguekhan Elimoghale, who was born in 2009.

The squad will meet on Sunday 11 January in Case Nuove, in Varese, before travelling to Madrid the following day.

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers:
Francesco Cereser (Torino), Alessandro Longoni (AC Milan)

Defenders:
Benit Borasio (Juventus), Leonardo Noah Bovio (Inter), Cristiano De Paoli (Como), Dauda Amihere Iddrisa (West Bromwich Albion), Jean-Tryfose Mambuku (Stade de Reims), David Marini (Cesena), Davide Pavesi (Cremonese)*, Alessandro Perrotti (Fiorentina)

Midfielders:
Alessio Baralla (Empoli), Andrea Chiummariello (Napoli), Christian Dottori (Perugia), Mattia Esposito (Sorrento), Andrea Luongo (Torino), Valerio Maccaroni (Roma), Matteo Papaccioli Oliveira (Como), Vincenzo Prisco (Napoli)

Forwards:
Thomas Campaniello (Empoli), Destiny Onoguekhan Elimoghale (Juventus), Simone Lontani (AC Milan), Gabriele Ricci (Cesena)

*The player will join the training camp on Monday 12 January, following club commitments.

Staff

Head Coach: Massimiliano Favo; Deputy Youth National Teams Coordinator: Daniele Zoratto; Assistant Coach: Davide Cei; Goalkeeping Coach: Davide Quironi; Fitness Coach: Adalberto Zamuner; Match Analyst: Andrea Loiacono; Doctors: Alessio Rossato, Andrea Serdoz; Physiotherapist: Enrico Matera; Nutritionist: Claudio Pecorella; Team Secretary: Massimo Petracchini.