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There is a man who has quietly shaped much of Italy’s youth setup: Carmine Nunziata. A two-time finalist with the Under-17s (2018 in England, 2019 in Ireland), he never raises his voice, and when he speaks about football, every word is deliberate. He has now returned to lead the Under-20s, the side he guided to a historic runner-up finish in Argentina in 2023 – Italy’s best-ever result at the tournament. That campaign ended on June 11 at the Ciudad de La Plata, with a narrow 1–0 defeat to Uruguay. The cruellest of margins.

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After two years with the Under-21s, taking them to an impressive European Championship quarterfinal, fate has brought him back to the helm of his old team. From 27 September to 19 October, Chile hosts the U20 World Cup, and once again Italy’s future rests in Nunziata’s hands. It will be Italy’s ninth appearance – 1977, 1981, 1987, 2005, 2009, 2017, 2019, 2023, and now 2025 – and their fourth in succession, proof of Italian youth football’s longevity at the top level.

The debut comes on Sunday, 28 September (17:00 local / 22:00 CEST) against Australia in Valparaíso’s Elías Figueroa Brander stadium. Group D also includes Argentina and Cuba. “We all know Argentina’s talent and quality,” Nunziata told Vivo Azzurro TV, “but Australia and Cuba are dangerous too. Many of their players already have 15–20 league games behind them, while we are just starting our season. In the end, motivation makes the difference.”

Nunziata always speaks this way: direct, essential. He acknowledges the difficulties – calendars that take away key players – but at the same time never takes a step back: “We are here with an excellent squad, with which we will try to alternate between two systems of play. The staff, meanwhile, is the same group from the Under-19s who secured qualification for this World Cup, with the additions of Matteo Brighi and Fabrizio Ferron, who have worked with me for several years.”

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For Nunziata, the key lies in unity. “In a few days, we have to become a team. Intensity, play, and a shared purpose — those are fundamental for a World Cup.”

When reminded of the run in Argentina, he answers with calm perspective: “It was an experience we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. Our chemistry off the pitch was our strength.” To show what this tournament can mean, he points to Cesare Casadei – best player of the U20 World Cup and top scorer with 7 goals – and Sebastiano Desplanches, who went from 10 Serie C appearances at Trento to winning the Best Goalkeeper of the competition.

The message is clear: the U20 World Cup is more than a tournament. It is a magnifying glass on dreams, where one month can change a career.

Nunziata knows it, feels it, lives it. And in two days’ time, the story begins again: Italy vs Australia, in Valparaíso.

THE SQUAD

Goalkeepers: 1. Alessandro Nunziante (Udinese), 12. Jacopo Seghetti (Livorno), 18. Lapo Siviero (Torino);

Defenders: 6. Wisdom Amey (Pianese), 3. Cristian Cama (Roma), 4. Christian Corradi (Trento), 13. Emanuel Benjamin de Santana Balbinot (Real Madrid), 2. Javison Osarumwense Idele (Atalanta), 5. Andrea Natali (AZ Alkmaar), 15. Francesco Verde (Juventus)*;

Midfielders: 16. Alessandro Berretta (Giana Erminio), 8. Mattia Mannini (Juve Stabia), 21. Lorenzo Riccio (Atalanta), Emanuele Sala (Milan), 7. Jacopo Sardo (Monza);

Forwards: 17. Jamal Iddrissou (Inter), 9. Ismaël Konaté (Empoli), 20. Mattia Liberali (Catanzaro), 11. Mattia Mosconi (Inter), 19. Alvin Obinna Okoro (Juventus), 10. Marco Romano (Genoa).

*Called up on September 20th to replace the unavailable Fellipe Jack Ozilio Moreira Pacheco (Spezia).

Staff – Head Coach: Carmine Nunziata; Head of Delegation: Gianfranco Serioli; Youth National Teams Coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Assistant Coaches: Matteo Brighi, Mirco Gasparetto; Goalkeeping Coach: Fabrizio Ferron; Fitness Coach: Mattia Montini; Match Analyst: Francesco Donzella; Federation Scout: Claudio Coppi; Team Doctors: Cristiano Benelli, Paolo Manetti; Nutritionist: Maria Luisa Cravana; Physiotherapists: Angelo Cartocci, Stefano Gari; Club Italia: Emanuele Sica; Press Office: Alessandro Paoli; Administration Office: Andrea Ottaviani; Secretary: Luca Umberto Gatto.

FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025

Group Stage (Saturday 27 September to Monday 6 October)

Group A: Chile, New Zealand, Japan, Egypt

Group B: South Korea, Ukraine, Paraguay, Panama

Group C: Brazil, Mexico, Morocco, Spain

Group D: Italy, Australia, Cuba, Argentina

Group E: United States, New Caledonia, France, South Africa

Group F: Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Nigeria

Matchday One

Saturday 27 September

22:00 CEST: Japan vs. Egypt, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

22:00 CEST: South Korea vs. Ukraine, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

Sunday 28 September

01:00 CEST: Chile vs. New Zealand, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

01:00 CEST: Paraguay vs. Panama, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

22:00 CEST: Morocco vs. Spain, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

22:00 CEST: Italy vs. Australia, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

Monday 29 September

01:00 CEST: Brazil vs. Mexico, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

01:00 CEST: Cuba vs. Argentina, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

22:00 CEST: France vs. South Africa, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua

22:00 CEST: Norway vs. Nigeria, Fiscal Stadium, Talca

Tuesday 30 September

01:00 CEST: United States vs. New Caledonia, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua

01:00 CEST: Colombia vs. Saudi Arabia, Fiscal Stadium, Talca

Matchday Two

Tuesday 30 September

22:00 CEST: Egypt vs. New Zealand, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

22:00 CEST: Panama vs. Ukraine, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

Wednesday 1 October

01:00 CEST: Chile vs. Japan, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

01:00 CEST: South Korea vs. Paraguay, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

22:00 CEST: Spain vs. Mexico, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

22:00 CEST: Italy vs. Cuba, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

Thursday 2 October

01:00 CEST: Brazil vs. Morocco, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

01:00 CEST: Argentina vs. Australia, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

22:00 CEST: United States vs. France, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua

22:00 CEST: Colombia vs. Norway, Fiscal Stadium, Talc

Friday 3 October

01:00 CEST: South Africa vs. New Caledonia, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua

01:00 CEST: Nigeria vs. Saudi Arabia, Fiscal Stadium, Talca

Matchday Three

Friday 3 October

22:00 CEST: Panama vs. South Korea, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua

22:00 CEST: Ukraine vs. Paraguay, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

Saturday 4 October

01:00 CEST: Egypt vs. Chile, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

01:00 CEST: New Zealand vs. Japan, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

22:00 CEST: Spain vs. Brazil, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

22:00 CEST: Mexico vs. Morocco, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

Sunday 5 October

01:00 CEST: Argentina vs. Italy, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

01:00 CEST: Australia vs. Cuba, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

22:00 CEST: South Africa vs. United States, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua

22:00 CEST: New Caledonia vs. France, Fiscal Stadium, Talca

Monday 6 October

01:00 CEST: Nigeria vs. Colombia, Fiscal Stadium, Talca

01:00 CEST: Saudi Arabia vs. Norway, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua

Knockout Stage (Tuesday 7 October – Sunday 19 October)

Round of 16 (Tuesday 7 October – Friday 10 October)

Tuesday 7 October

37) 21:30 CEST: Group A runner-up vs. Group C runner-up, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

Wednesday 8 October

39) 01:00 CEST: Group B winner vs. 3rd place A/C/D, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

38) 21:30 CEST: Group D winner vs. 3rd place B/E/F, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

40) 21:30 CEST: Group F winner vs. Group E runner-up, Fiscal Stadium, Talca

Thursday 9 October

43) 01:00 CEST: Group B runner-up vs. Group F runner-up, Fiscal Stadium, Talca

44) 01:00 CEST: Group A winner vs. 3rd place C/D/E, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

41) 21:30 CEST: Group E winner vs. Group D runner-up, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua

Friday 10 October

42) 01:00 CEST: Group C winner vs. 3rd place A/B/F, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua

Quarterfinals (Saturday 11 October – Monday 13 October)

Saturday 11 October

46) 22:00 CEST: Winner 39 vs. Winner 40, Fiscal Stadium, Talca

Sunday 12 October

45) 01:00 CEST: Winner 37 vs. Winner 38, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

47) 22:00 CEST: Winner 41 vs. Winner 42, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua

Monday 13 October

48) 01:00 CEST: Winner 43 vs. Winner 44, El Teniente Stadium, Rancagua

Semifinals (Wednesday 15 October – Thursday 16 October)

Wednesday 15 October

50) 22:00 CEST: Winner 47 vs. Winner 48, Elías Figueroa Brander Stadium, Valparaíso

Thursday 16 October

49) 01:00 CEST: Winner 45 vs. Winner 46, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

3rd Place (Saturday 18 October)

21:00 CEST: Loser 49 vs. Loser 50, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago

Final (Monday 20 October)

01:00 CEST: Winner 49 vs. Winner 50, Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium, Santiago