Acerbi makes Italy return in 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Francesco Acerbi was recalled to the Italy squad on Monday for upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Moldova.

Defender Acerbi, who was key to Inter Milan reaching the Champions League final with a stoppage-time equaliser against Barcelona, is in a 27-man squad selected by coach Luciano Spalletti.

The 37-year-old hadn’t been picked by Spalletti since March last year, and like four of his Inter teammates and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will join up with the Azzurri next Monday, two days after the Champions League final in Munich.

Italy begin their bid to qualify for a first World Cup since 2014 against Norway, their biggest rivals in Group I, in Oslo on June 6, before hosting Moldova three days later.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham/ENG).

Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Inter Milan), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Diego Coppola (Verona), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan), Matteo Gabbia (AC Milan), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham/ENG), Davide Zappacosta (Atalanta).

Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Cesare Casadei (Torino), Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Nicolo Rovella (Lazio), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle/ENG).

Forwards: Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Lorenzo Lucca (Udinese), Daniel Maldini (Atalanta), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Atalanta).