Football Italia
·8 September 2025
Israel vs. Italy: Official line-ups for 2026 World Cup qualifier

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·8 September 2025
Italy make two changes for the World Cup qualifier against Israel, moving to a more balanced 4-3-3 with Manuel Locatelli in midfield, but keeping Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean upfront.
It kicks off at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary, at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
This fixture is being played on neutral turf due to the on-going security situation in Israel, with barely 2,000 people in the stadium.
Along with enhanced security, Israel will also wear black armbands following this morning’s terror attack on a bus stop in Jerusalem.
The match is available to watch on Amazon Prime in the UK, Fox Sports 2 and fuboTV in the USA and TLN TV in Canada.
BERGAMO – SEPTEMBER 05: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach during the National anthems prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
Gennaro Gattuso made the ideal debut with a 5-0 victory over Estonia on Friday, fielding a very attack-minded 4-2-3-1 formation.
There are two changes, firstly to the system, which is a more balanced 4-3-3 using Matteo Politano with Kean and Retegui upfront.
Locatelli steps into the midfield, replacing the not fully fit winger Mattia Zaccagni.
Another adjustment is in defence, where Gianluca Mancini is preferred to Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori.
BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Sandro Tonali in action challenges for the ball with Kevor Palumets of Estonia during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
Israel are second in Group I on 9 points from 4 games, winning six of their last seven matches, suffering defeat only to leaders Norway in a 4-2 thriller.
During that spell, they held France 0-0 and beat Belgium 1-0 in the Nations League, so are not to be under-estimated.
They’re fresh from a 4-0 victory away to Moldova on Friday, with Dor Peretz, Manor Solomon, Tai Baribo and Oscar Gloukh on target.
Israel: Daniel Peretz; Dasa, Nachmias, Lemkin, Revivo; Dor Peretz, E Peretz; Khalaili, Gloukh, Solomon; Biton
Israel bench: O Glazer, Nir On, Shlomo, Gandelman, Shua, Baribo, Mizrahi, Kanichowsky, Jehezkel, Turgeman, Blorian, Azoulay
Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni, Dimarco; Barella, Locatelli, Tonali; Politano, Retegui, Kean
Italy bench: Meret, Vicario, Bellanova, Gatti, Rovella, Raspadori, Calafiori, Pio Esposito, Frattesi, Orsolini, Cambiaso, Maldini
Ref: Vincic (SVN)