Who will make the Italy World Cup 2022 squad if they qualify?
The Euro 2020 winners are having to go through the play-off route to make it to Qatar, with a semi-final on March 24 against North Macedonia potentially setting up a final against Portugal or Turkey.
Roberto Mancini's side have no shortage or talent however, and would be immediately considered one of the favourites if they make it to the Qatar World Cup 2022.
Italy World Cup 2022 squad: The final qualifying squad
- GK: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari)
- GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma, PSG
- GK: Pierluigi Gollini (Tottenham)
- GK: Salvatore Sirigu (Genoa)
- DF: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio)
- DF: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter)
- DF: Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina)
- DF: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus)
- DF: Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
- DF: Mattia De Sciglio (Juventus)
- DF: Emerson Palmieri (Lyon)
- DF: Alessandro Florenzi (Milan)
- DF: Luiz Felipe (Lazio)
- DF: Gianluca Mancini (Roma)
- MF: Nicolo Barella (Inter)
- MF: Bryan Cristante (Roma)
- MF: Jorginho (Chelsea)
- MF: Manuel Locatelli (Juventus)
- MF: Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)
- MF: Matteo Pessina (Atalanta)
- MF: Stefano Sensi (Sampdoria)
- MF: Sandro Tonali (Milan)
- MF: Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain)
- MF: Nicolo Zaniolo (Roma)
- FW: Andrea Belotti (Torino)
- FW: Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo)
- FW: Ciro Immobile (Lazio)
- FW: Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)
- FW: Joao Pedro (Cagliari)
- FW: Matteo Politano (Napoli)
- FW: Giacomo Raspadori, Sassuolo
- FW: Gianluca Scamacca (Sassuolo)
- FW: Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio)
How many players are Italy allowed to take to the 2022 World Cup?
Roberto Mancini was permitted 26 players for Euro 2020, due to the potential of COVID-19 outbreaks during the tournament. For the 2022 World Cup in Qatar - unless otherwise stated - it is expected that the squad number will be reduced back down to the usual 23.
This could well be adjusted, however, in the coming months. Substitute numbers were raised during the pandemic too, allowing five changes to be made a game instead of the regular three. This has remained this season in international competition: it is possible that the squad number will increase to 26 once more - especially with the World Cup taking place midseason.
When will the final Italy 2022 World Cup squad be announced?
The 2022 World Cup takes place in November of next year. It is expected that the preparations for the tournament will begin as soon as next summer.
While the next World Cup's staging is a break from the traditional football calendar, World Cup squads are usually announced around six weeks prior to the tournament beginning.
This may change with club football being played closer to the start date of the tournament.
Who will make the final Italy 2022 World Cup squad?
Barring injuries or bans, there are a few players that we expect to be dead certs for Roberto Mancini's final Italy 2022 World Cup squad.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is firmly established as Italy's No.1 goalkeeper and he will be on the plane to Qatar even if he continues to struggle for game time at PSG. Despite their advancing years, it is equally hard to see defensive stalwarts Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci being left out.
Marco Verratti and Jorginho will start in midfield if fit, although the former has a habit of picking up untimely injuries ahead of major tournaments. Ciro Immobile is not as prolific for his country as he is at club level, but he too will be among Mancini's first picks.
Elsewhere in attack Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Chiesa will be part of Italy's travelling party next November, unless something goes drastically wrong in the meantime.
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