National team, double challenge: on the field with Turkey, off the field with the risk of the FIGC being placed under administration.

The Italian national soccer team faces Turkey tonight in Bologna in the final match of this Nations League cycle. Coach Roberto Mancini's goal is to win to "end on a high note" the gathering and remain in contention for second place in the group, after the initial defeat against Belgium and good performances in the subsequent away matches. Mancini announces extensive rotation in the lineup, with Moise Kean excluded due to injury and possible starting debuts for Vergara and Doumbia.

Simultaneously, Italian soccer is going through a delicate institutional phase. Tomorrow, the CONI board will meet to decide on the possible appointment of a commissioner for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). The issue stems from irregularities related to the failure to register President Giovanni Malagò, elected last June 22nd. Mancini, chosen by Malagò himself to lead the national team, expresses confidence in stability, while hoping that "things can be set right."

The current situation in Italian football stems from two distinct yet parallel streams. On one hand, the national team was experiencing a crisis after a heavy initial defeat against Belgium in the Nations League, with fans fearing relegation to the competition's second division and exclusion from the top seeding for the European Championship. The turning point came with two positive performances: a 4-0 away victory against Turkey in Bursa and a draw in Paris against France, which restored confidence in the group led by Mancini.

On the other hand, the institutional crisis originates from the federal elections on June 22, 2026, when Giovanni Malagò was elected president of the FIGC. The issue arose later due to his "failure to register," a bureaucratic formality that led the CONI to consider annulling the elections and placing the federation under administration. This decision was strategically scheduled after the national team's four matches to avoid disturbing the squad, but now the reckoning is imminent. The administration could lead to instability in the leadership of Italian football, with repercussions also on the management of the national team.