Palestra ‘to get’ first Italy call for decisive 2026 World Cup play-offs | OneFootball

Cagliari winger Marco Palestra, on loan from Atalanta, is likely to receive his first Italy call-up for next month’s 2026 World Cup play-offs under Gennaro Gattuso.

According to Sky Sport Italia, he will be named in the squad for play-offs that start against Northern Ireland at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo on March 26.

If they win, the play-off final would then be against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31.

An Atalanta academy product, Palestra operates on the right in Cagliari’s three-five-two and can also play right-back. He has one goal and four assists in 23 Serie A appearances this season.

He turns 21 on March three. He was one year old when Italy last won the World Cup in 2006, and could help Italy return to a tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada this summer after missing the last two editions.

The possible absence of Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo on the right could further enhance Palestra’s chances of featuring.

Source: Football Italia