UEFA Nations League Prediction: Italy vs Belgium (25-09-2026)

Italy host Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico on September 25 as both teams begin their 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaigns under new head coaches.

Roberto Mancini returns to the Italian national team after another failed World Cup qualification campaign, while Mark van Bommel takes charge of Belgium following their quarter-final appearance in North America.

The visitors arrive with a stronger recent record against top-level opposition, although Italy have traditionally been difficult opponents for the Red Devils.

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Belgium’s World Cup campaign provides a strong starting point for this selection.

They reached the quarter-finals after beating Senegal 3-2 after extra time and the United States 4-1, before losing 2-1 to eventual champions Spain.

That defeat ended an 18-match unbeaten run, leaving Van Bommel with a squad that has shown it can compete consistently at international level.

Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku remain available, providing experience alongside the younger players introduced for the new Nations League campaign.

Italy’s recent results have been positive without providing the same level of opposition.

They beat Luxembourg and Greece by identical 1-0 scorelines in June, following their World Cup play-off elimination against Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties.

Mancini has also introduced nine uncapped players into his expanded squad, while Federico Dimarco and Bryan Cristante are unavailable through injury.

Establishing a settled starting eleven against Belgium will be an immediate challenge.

The head-to-head record remains the clearest argument against the visitors.

Italy have won four of the last five meetings, with Belgium’s only positive result during that sequence coming in a 2-2 draw in Rome in October 2024.

Belgium recovered from two goals down to avoid defeat, demonstrating that Italy’s historical advantage does not necessarily translate into a comfortable home victory.

Both teams are adapting to new managers, but Belgium enter with a more substantial recent record against elite opposition.

With a draw also covering the selection, Belgium or Draw is the preferred pick.