PHOTO
2025 FIFA
Some penalties seem to be scored long before they are ever awarded. Not in Valparaíso, not in the Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, but years earlier, when a four-year-old boy in Valtellina was chasing a ball wearing a Grosio jersey. He is Mattia Mosconi. That’s where the journey began, one that, just two days ago in Chile, opened a new chapter.
Italy faced Australia in the first match of the U-20 World Cup in Chile, under Head Coach Carmine Nunziata. A tough game against the Champions of Asia. Then, in the crucial moment, Mosconi broke away into the box, dribbles past the opposing goalkeeper Hall, and is fouled: penalty. He wins it, but it’s Mattia Mannini, the captain, who converts it: 1-0. That’s all the Azzurrini, the reigning World Cup runners-up, need to get off to a winning start in Group D.
Today (17:00 local time/ 22:00 CEST, live on Rai Sport) they will face Cuba, in Valparaíso again. A win would mean securing a spot in the round of 16, with a game in hand. The World Cup doesn’t wait, it moves fast, but Mosconi’s story deserves to be told slowly.
Mattia is not the only Inter forward who won the Primavera 1 Championship and the Supercoppa in the space of a few months. He’s not the only one who looks up to Lautaro Martínez and Francesco Pio Esposito. Mosconi was captain on June 5, 2024, in Limassol, and lifted the coveted Under-17 Euro trophy, the firs in Azzurri history. 3-0 against Portugal, together with Critsian Cama, Emanuel Benjamín, Mattia Liberali, Andrea Natali, Alessandro Nunziante, Emanuele Sala and Francesco Verde. A generation which now wear the U-20 shirt and carries with it that familiar feeling, the weight of history.
“Playing for the National Team is an honour and a duty,” said Mosconi without having to say much more, because he knows that football is about taking real action: running, sacrificing and believing. “The team is strong and ready. We have got off to a good start and I’m sure that we will play well this World Cup if we put in the work and the will to win, helping one another.
His best memory? He didn’t hesitate: “The Under-17 Euros.” While tomorrow the focus will be on Cuba, back in Grosio his dad Massimo, mum Samanta and older sister Giada will be watching another adventure from a far.
Because in Mattia Mosconi’s game it’s not all about goals. There is a thread that connects the small town of Valtellina and Chile, passing through Milan, Coverciano and Limasso, and who knows where else.
BACKGROUND. Mattia Mosconi, born March 26, 2007, in Sondalo, Sondrio to dad Massimo and mum Samanta, started playing football at the age of four in Grosio, a local Lombard team, before joining the Youth Sector of Inter. Here, he won the Primavera 1 Championship last season and the Supercoppa this season. He debuted in Serie C with the Under-23s, in the 1-0 home defeat to Lecce, on the fourth matchday of Group A in the league.
THE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: 1. Alessandro Nunziante (Udinese), 12. Jacopo Seghetti (Livorno), 18. Lapo Siviero (Torino);
Defenders: 6. Wisdom Amey (Pianese), 3. Cristian Cama (Roma), 4. Christian Corradi (Trento), 13. Emanuel Benjamín de Santana Balbinot (Real Madrid), 2. Javison Osarumwense Idele (Atalanta), 5. Andrea Natali (AZ Alkmaar), 15. Francesco Verde (Juventus)*;
Midfielders: 16. Alessandro Berretta (Giana Erminio), 8. Mattia Mannini (Juve Stabia), 21. Lorenzo Riccio (Atalanta), 14. Emanuele Sala (Milan), 7. Jacopo Sardo (Monza);
Forwards: 17. Jamal Iddrissou (Inter), 9. Ismaël Konaté (Empoli), 20. Mattia Liberali (Catanzaro), 11. Mattia Mosconi (Inter), 19. Alvin Obinna Okoro (Juventus), 10. Marco Romano (Genoa).
*called up on September 20th to replace the unavailable Fellipe Jack Ozilio Moreira Pacheco (Spezia).
Staff – Head Coach: Carmine Nunziata; Delegation Head: Gianfranco Serioli; Coordinator of Youth National Teams: Maurizio Viscidi; Assistant Coaches: Matteo Brighi and Mirco Gasparetto; Goalkeeping Coach: Fabrizio Ferron; Fitness Coach: Mattia Montini; Match analyst: Francesco Donzella; Federation observer: Claudio Coppi; Doctors: Cristiano Benelli and Paolo Manetti; Nutritionist: Maria Luisa Cravana; Physiotherapists: Angelo Cartocci and Stefano Gari; Club Italia: Emanuele Sica; Press Office: Alessandro Paoli; Administration Office: Andrea Ottaviani; Secretary: Luca Umberto Gatto.
FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025
Group Stage (Saturday 27 September to Monday 6 October)
Group A: Chile, New Zealand, Japan, Egypt
Group B: South Korea, Ukraine, Paraguay, Panama
Group C: Brazil, Mexico, Morocco, Spain
Group D: Italy, Australia, Cuba, Argentina
Group E: United States, New Caledonia, France, South Africa
Group F: Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Nigeria
Matchday One
Saturday 27 September
Japan 2 – 0 Egypt
South Korea 1 – 2 Ukraine
Sunday 28 September
Chile 2 – 1 New Zealand
Paraguay 3 – 2 Panama
Morocco 2 – 0 Spain
ITALY 1 – 0 Australia
Monday 29 September
Brazil 2 – 2 Mexico
Cuba 1 – 3 Argentina
Group A Table: Japan 3, Chile 3, New Zealand 0, Egypt 0
Group B Table: Paraguay 3, Ukraine 3, Panama 0, South Korea 0
Group C Table: Morocco 3, Mexico 1, Brazil 1, Spain 0
Group D Table: Argentina 3, ITALY 3, Australia 0, Cuba 0
France 2 – 1 South Africa
Norway 1 – 0 Nigeria
Tuesday 30 September
01:00 CEST: United States vs. New Caledonia, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua
01:00 CEST: Colombia vs. Saudi Arabia, Fiscal Stadium, Talca
Matchday Two
Tuesday 30 September
22:00 CEST: Egypt vs. New Zealand, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago
22:00 CEST: Panama vs. Ukraine, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso
Wednesday 1 October
Chile 0 – 2 Japan
South Korea 0 – Paraguay 0
Group A Table: Japan 6, Chile 3, Nuova Zelanda 3, Egitto 0.
Group B Table: Ucraina 4, Paraguay 4, Panama 1, Corea del Sud 1.
Group C Table: Marocco 3, Messico 1, Brasile 1, Spagna 0.
Group D Table: Argentina 3, ITALIA 3, Australia 0, Cuba 0.
Group E Table: Stati Uniti 3, Francia 3, Sudafrica 0, Nuova Caledonia 0.
Group F Table: Colombia 3, Norvegia 3, Arabia Saudita 0, Nigeria 0.
22:00 CEST: Spain vs. Mexico, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago
22:00 CEST: Italy vs. Cuba, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso
Thursday 2 October
01:00 CEST: Brazil vs. Morocco, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago
01:00 CEST: Argentina vs. Australia, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso
22:00 CEST: United States vs. France, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua
22:00 CEST: Colombia vs. Norway, Fiscal Stadium, Talca
Friday 3 October
01:00 CEST: South Africa vs. New Caledonia, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua
01:00 CEST: Nigeria vs. Saudi Arabia, Fiscal Stadium, Talca
Matchday Three
Friday 3 October
22:00 CEST: Panama vs. South Korea, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua
22:00 CEST: Ukraine vs. Paraguay, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago
Saturday 4 October
01:00 CEST: Egypt vs. Chile, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago
01:00 CEST: New Zealand vs. Japan, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso
22:00 CEST: Spain vs. Brazil, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago
22:00 CEST: Mexico vs. Morocco, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso
Sunday 5 October
01:00 CEST: Argentina vs. Italy, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso
01:00 CEST: Australia vs. Cuba, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago
22:00 CEST: South Africa vs. United States, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua
22:00 CEST: New Caledonia vs. France, Fiscal Stadium, Talca
Monday 6 October
01:00 CEST: Nigeria vs. Colombia, Fiscal Stadium, Talca
01:00 CEST: Saudi Arabia vs. Norway, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua
Knockout Stage (Tuesday 7 October – Sunday 19 October)
Round of 16 (Tuesday 7 October – Friday 10 October)
Tuesday 7 October
37) 21:30 CEST: Group A runner-up vs. Group C runner-up, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso
Wednesday 8 October
39) 01:00 CEST: Group B winner vs. 3rd place A/C/D, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso
38) 21:30 CEST: Group D winner vs. 3rd place B/E/F, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago
40) 21:30 CEST: Group F winner vs. Group E runner-up, Fiscal Stadium, Talca
Thursday 9 October
43) 01:00 CEST: Group B runner-up vs. Group F runner-up, Fiscal Stadium, Talca
44) 01:00 CEST: Group A winner vs. 3rd place C/D/E, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago
41) 21:30 CEST: Group E winner vs. Group D runner-up, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua
Friday 10 October
42) 01:00 CEST: Group C winner vs. 3rd place A/B/F, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua
Quarterfinals (Saturday 11 October – Monday 13 October)
Saturday 11 October
46) 22:00 CEST: Winner 39 vs. Winner 40, Fiscal Stadium, Talca
Sunday 12 October
45) 01:00 CEST: Winner 37 vs. Winner 38, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago
47) 22:00 CEST: Winner 41 vs. Winner 42, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua
Monday 13 October
48) 01:00 CEST: Winner 43 vs. Winner 44, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua
Semifinals (Wednesday 15 October – Thursday 16 October)
Wednesday 15 October
50) 22:00 CEST: Winner 47 vs. Winner 48, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso
Thursday 16 October
49) 01:00 CEST: Winner 45 vs. Winner 46, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago
3rd Place (Saturday 18 October)
21:00 CEST: Loser 49 vs. Loser 50, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago
Final (Monday 20 October)
01:00 CEST: Winner 49 vs. Winner 50, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago