The long journey to Wales begins in Sicily. The Under-19 team will head to Acireale and Catania to kick off a campaign that Alberto Bollini’s side hopes will lead to the final stage of the European Championship, scheduled from June 28 to July 11. There are two qualifying rounds: the first will take place from November 12 to 18, with the Azzurrini placed in Group 9 alongside Moldova (their first opponent on Wednesday 12 15:00 CET, at the Aci e Galatea Stadium in Acireale), Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Poland, who Italy will face on Saturday 15 at 15:50 CET and Tuesday,18, at 15:00 CET, at the ‘Angelo Massimino’ Stadium. All of Italy’s matches will be broadcast live on Rai channels.

THE SQUAD Coach Alberto Bollini, who spent one season coaching in Sicily at Igea Virtus in 2003/04, has selected his 20 players to make up the squad. Eight of them took part in the Under-20 World Cup in Chile from late September to early October. Goalkeeper Nunziante, defenders Idele, Natali (only player born in 2008) and Verde, midfielders Liberali and Sala, forwards Iddrissou and Mosconi.

FREE ADMISSION Entry to the stadium is free for all six of the games. For the three in Italy (Acireale on Wednesday 12, and Catania on Saturday 15 and Tuesday 18) spectators will need to download a free ticket from figc.vivaticket.it and vivaticket.com, available for all three matches from Friday, November 7, at 16:00 CET. 

MEDIA ACCREDITATION Journalists, photographers, and broadcast operators wishing to request access to the stadiums and reserved areas can send an email with the subject line “Under-19 National Team Media Accreditation” to press@figc.it and m.calabresi@figc.it specifying their media outlet and the matches for which they are requesting accreditation. The deadline for submitting accreditation requests is 19:00 CET on the day before each match.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT The top two teams from each group, along with the best third-placed team, will join top seed Spain in the elite round draw on December 10. The second qualifying phase, scheduled for spring 2026, will determine the seven nations that will join hosts Wales in the final tournament, taking place from June 28 to July 11.

SQUAD SELECTION

Goalkeepers: Alessandro Nunziante (Udinese), Tommaso Vannucchi (Pontedera);
Defenders: Matteo Cocchi (Inter), Javison Osarumwense Idele (Atalanta), Marco Leandri (Atalanta), Manuel Maffessoli (Atalanta), Federico Nardin (Roma), Andrea Natali (Az Alkmaar), Francesco Verde (Juventus);
Midfielders: Filippo Cerpelletti (Inter), Alessandro Ciardi (Parma), Federico Coletta (Benfica), Alessandro Di Nunzio (Roma), Mattia Liberali (Catanzaro), Matteo Mantini (Grasshoppers), Emanuele Sala (AC Milan);
Forwards: Alessio Cacciamani (Juve Stabia), Alex Castiello (AC Milan), Jamal Iddrissou (Inter), Mattia Mosconi (Inter) 

Staff - Coach: Alberto Bollini; Youth National Teams Coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Club Italia Representative: Giuseppe Martucci; Assistant Coach: Christian Maggio; Fitness coach: Nicolò Varesco; Goalkeeping coach: Graziano Vinti; Match analyst: Luca Dalmasso; Doctors: Gianluca Ciolli, Francesco Maria Nifosì; Physiotherapists: Simone Siciliano, Matteo Giorcelli; Nutritionist: Dennis Dell'Unto; Academic Tutor: Alessandro Milani; Secretary: Aldo Blessich

 

UEFA European Under-19 Championship Wales 2026
Qualifying Round| Gruppo 9

Matchday One (Wednesday, November 12)
11:00 CET Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Poland, Stadio ‘Angelo Massimino’, Catania
15:00 CET ITALY vs. Moldova, Stadio ‘Aci e Galatea’, Acireale

Matchday Two (Saturday, November 15)
11:00 CET Poland vs. Moldova, Stadio ‘Aci e Galatea’, Acireale
15:50 CET ITALY vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Stadio ‘Angelo Massimino’, Catania

Matchday Three (Tuesday, November 18)
15:00 CET Poland vs. ITALY, Stadio ‘Angelo Massimino’, Catania
15:00 CET Moldova vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Stadio ‘Aci e Galatea’, Acireale