On March 23, 2026, in Bergamo, Federico Chiesa’s situation took a significant turn as he was dropped from the Italy national team due to injury. This decision came just before the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying playoffs, where Italy was set to face Northern Ireland.
Chiesa, who is currently 28 years old, had last represented Italy at Euro 2024, where he was a standout player during Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph. However, his repeated withdrawals from the national team have become a concerning trend.
Despite his contributions to Liverpool this season, where he has scored two goals and provided three assists, Chiesa’s fitness has been a recurring issue. He was initially recalled for the World Cup play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland but had to leave the national team’s training camp after being deemed unavailable.
According to reports, Chiesa’s condition was assessed upon his arrival at the Federal Technical Centre, leading to the decision that he would not participate in the upcoming matches. In agreement with his club, he departed from the camp.
Nicolo Cambiaghi has been called up to replace Chiesa in the Italy squad, highlighting the impact of Chiesa’s absence on the team’s preparations. Gattuso, the national team coach, acknowledged Chiesa’s ongoing issues, stating, “You know it well. You know Chiesa’s problem. You always ask me the same thing. I call Chiesa in every call-up; I always talk to him. The problem is not Gattuso or his staff; he has a problem, not us.”
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the specific injury that led to Chiesa’s unavailability. This situation raises questions about what has changed that allowed Chiesa to accept the call-up initially, only to withdraw later.
As Italy gears up for the critical matches ahead, the absence of a player of Chiesa’s caliber could have significant implications for the team’s performance and strategy.
With Chiesa not having played for Italy since Euro 2024, his ongoing fitness struggles continue to be a major storyline for both the player and the national team.
As the World Cup qualifiers approach, the focus will be on how Italy adapts to the loss of Chiesa and the potential impact on their chances of securing a spot in the tournament.
