The Italy Women’s National Team are continuing their preparations for the first-leg of their first-round World Cup play-off, with the Azzurre set to face Belarus on Friday (6:15 PM Italian time, live on Rai 2) at the neutral venue in Tbilisi, Georgia. Belarus are currently ranked 52nd in the FIFA rankings.

Andrea Soncin’s side held their final training session at the Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano this morning before flying to the Georgian capital this afternoon. Italy last played there in September 2019, beating the hosts 1-0 thanks to a goal from Girelli in a match that formed part of the qualifying campaign for the 2022 European Championship.

The first-ever meeting with Belarus will mark the beginning of Italy’s ‘new’ journey towards the final tournament of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, having finished second in Group 1 of League A. The tournament will be held in Brazil from 24 June to 25 July 2027. The campaign will then continue on Tuesday 13 October (6:15 PM, Rai 2) with the second leg, which will be played at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence.

All 28 players in the squad, including the three US-based players Boattin, Cantore and Di Guglielmo, who arrived from the United States yesterday, were present on the main pitch at Coverciano today. Tomorrow afternoon, at 6:15 PM local time (4:15 PM Italian time), the Azzurre will hold their final training session at the David Petriashvili Stadium, the venue that will host the match behind closed doors. The morning after the game, the team will return to Coverciano to begin preparations for the match at the Franchi, which is set to host the Italy Women’s National Team for the fourth time. Florence has witnessed some unforgettable moments in the team’s history, including their qualification for the 2019 World Cup and UEFA Women’s Euro 2022.

Tickets for the match on 13 October are on sale through ticketing.figc.it and at Vivaticket agencies, with discounted prices available for Under-20s, over-65s, university students and Fiorentina season-ticket holders.

THE SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Rachele Baldi (Roma), Francesca Durante (Como 1907), Astrid Gilardi (Como Women), Laura Giuliani (Stuttgart);

Defenders: Valentina Bergamaschi (Roma), Lisa Boattin (Houston Dash), Federica D’Aurica (Juventus), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Washington Spirit), Michela Giordano (Napoli Women), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elisabetta Oliviero (Roma), Martina Rosucci (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Angelica Soffia (AC Milan);

Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Real Madrid), Giulia Dragoni (Chelsea), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Eva Schatzer (Juventus), Annamaria Serturini (Juventus), Emma Severini (Fiorentina);

Forwards: Barbara Bonansea (San Diego Wave), Michela Cambiaghi (Inter), Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit), Cristiana Girelli (Bay FC), Benedetta Glionna (Inter), Martina Piemonte (Roma), Elisa Polli (Inter).

THE SCHEDULE

Thursday 8 October

6:15 PM local time (4:15 PM Italian time) MD-1 training session at the David Petriashvili Stadium in Tbilisi

Friday 9 October

8:15 PM local time (6:15 PM Italian time) Belarus-ITALY (live on Rai 2)

Saturday 10 October

11:30 AM local time (9:30 AM Italian time) Flight to Florence

5:00 PM Training session (first 15 minutes open to the media)

Sunday 11 October

10:30 AM Training session (closed to the media)

Monday 12 October

3:30 PM MD-1 press conference with the head coach and a player at the Franchi Stadium in Florence

5:00 PM MD-1 training session at the Franchi Stadium in Florence

Tuesday 13 October

6:15 PM ITALY-Belarus (live on Rai 2)

Delegation to disband after the match