The Aporia · Italy crisis deepens as Belgium’s win stalls World Cup rebuild in Rome

Italy's soccer crisis deepened with a 2-0 loss to Belgium in the Nations League at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, marking six months since failing to qualify for the World Cup. The match drew only 47,155 spectators out of the stadium’s capacity, reflecting fan disappointment. Roberto Mancini, who returned to lead Italy after an unexpected exit to coach Saudi Arabia, appeared frustrated during the game as Belgium capitalized on counterattacks to secure their victory.

Written by AI on 2026-09-25, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

Italy suffered a 2-0 defeat to Belgium in their Nations League match at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on September 25, 2026. The home crowd of only 47,155, well below the stadium's capacity of 70,000, showed early frustration when Mika Godts scored his first international goal to put Belgium ahead. In the second half, Dodi Lukebakio added a second for Belgium. Former Manchester City player Kevin De Bruyne, making his 125th appearance, assisted on Godts' goal, showcasing Belgium's offensive prowess. The loss marked a poor start under new coach Roberto Mancini, who returned after leaving in 2023 to join Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Belgium’s appointment of Mark van Bommel as head coach was off to a successful beginning.

Written for “Italy Belgium Nations League Match” on 2026-11-02, grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Italy Belgium Nations League Match

Sports · 3 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

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Kevin De Bruyne — making his 125th international appearance — set up Godts on the left flank, and the Belgium number 10 cut inside and dribbled past three defenders before slotting past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-25

🔮 It will not get any easier for Italy, who visit Turkiye on Monday and then go to France next Friday, before hosting Turkiye in Bologna to conclude the first phase of Nations League matches.

2026-09-25 · Al Jazeera

Italy crisis deepens as Belgium’s win stalls World Cup rebuild in Rome · assertive framing

Six months on from failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, four-time champion Italy is still struggling. asserted

Italy → fail → Cup

Italy was beaten 2-0 at home by World Cup quarterfinalist Belgium in the Nations League on Friday in the Azzurri’s first match since a playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March. asserted

Italy → beat → March

Roberto Mancini marked his return to Italy’s bench three years after he abandoned the job for a lucrative deal to coach Saudi Arabia, and he appeared frustrated on the touchline. asserted

he → mark → touchline

By contrast, it was a successful debut for new Belgium coach Mark van Bommel, the former Netherlands international who was hired when Rudi Garcia left after the World Cup. asserted

Garcia → hire → Cup

Only 47,155 spectators showed up in the 70,000-seat Stadio Olimpico and the home fans were already whistling 20 minutes in after Mika Godts put the visitors ahead with his first international goal. asserted

Godts → show → goal

Dodi Lukebakio doubled Belgium’s advantage midway through the second half. asserted

Lukebakio → double → half

number → make → Donnarumma

Godts, who recently joined Paris Saint-Germain, turned defender Gianluca Mancini the wrong way, and his fellow centre-back Diego Coppola came sliding in too late. asserted

back → join → Mancini

Coppola was playing in place of Alessandro Bastoni, who was suspended after being sent off in the loss to Bosnia. asserted

who → play → Bosnia

The counterattack began with a poor pass from midfielder Alessandro Romano, who was making his Italy debut after switching international allegiance from Switzerland. asserted

who → begin → Switzerland

Belgium’s second also came on a counterattack as Lukebakio scored from beyond the area after midfielder Sandro Tonali ran back in a desperate effort to stop him. asserted

Tonali → come → him

Mancini’s starting lineup contained eight players who had featured regularly during the World Cup qualifying campaign. asserted

who → contain → campaign

The 61-year-old Mancini led the Azzurri to the European Championship title in 2021, but shockingly resigned as Italy coach in August 2023, taking over Saudi Arabia’s national team two weeks later. asserted

Mancini → lead → team

It will not get any easier for Italy, who visit Turkiye on Monday and then go to France next Friday, before hosting Turkiye in Bologna to conclude the first phase of Nations League matches. asserted

who → get → matches

Italy crisis deepens as Belgium’s win stalls World Cup rebuild in Rome

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