A week-long trip across the Atlantic to reconnect with the Azzurre who are based in America and to continue preparations for the team's ultimate goal: qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. Just over two months before the two-legged World Cup play-off against Belarus (9 and 13 October), Head Coach Andrea Soncin and assistant coach Viviana Schiavi are set to travel to the United States to meet Cristiana Girelli, Lisa Boattin, Lucia Di Guglielmo and Sofia Cantore, the four Italian internationals currently playing in the NWSL, while also visiting leading clubs Bay FC, Houston Dash and Washington Spirit.

"This trip represents a crucial step in our journey," said Soncin. "We'll be visiting top-level clubs to follow our players closely in one of the world's most competitive leagues. Our approach is firmly player-centred: that means putting the individual at the heart of everything we do, ensuring we care not only for the footballer but for the person as a whole. Clubs play a fundamental role in supporting and developing talent, and building strong, effective relationships with them allows our players to grow in every aspect and ultimately achieve success on the pitch."

The first stop will be San Jose, where Bay FC play Gotham FC on Wednesday 29 July at 19:00. The following day, Soncin and Schiavi will attend Bay FC's training session before travelling to Houston, Texas, to watch Houston Dash in league action and visit the club's training facilities, where Boattin plays. Before returning to Italy, they will also spend time in Washington, D.C., where on Sunday 2 August at 16:00 Washington Spirit, featuring Di Guglielmo and Cantore, the latter fresh from scoring the winning goal for Denver Summit to send the club top of the table, will take on San Diego Waves.

The American tour will also provide, in Soncin's words, "a valuable opportunity for our entire technical and performance staff to broaden their knowledge by engaging with a football culture built around one-on-one situations, quick transitions, vertical play and attacking freedom. These are elite-level characteristics that we are actively developing and integrating into the way our national team plays, with the aim of competing consistently at the highest international level."

Following the trip to the United States, Soncin and his staff will once again turn their attention to the season in Italy, beginning with the Women's Serie A Women's Cup on 22 August, as well as the start of the major European leagues featuring Italian internationals.

"At this stage," Soncin concluded, "attention to every last detail will make the difference as we prepare for these decisive World Cup play-off matches. It's about continuing the development process we've been building over time. To our players and our supporters, we want to say that we're working tirelessly, combining technical excellence with a genuine focus on the human side of the game, so that we're ready to secure qualification for the 2027 World Cup."