Belgium beat Italy 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico on 25 September 2026, opening the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League with a statement win that pushed Roberto Mancini's rebuilding Azzurri to the bottom of Group A1. Below is the full match report, the complete Italy vs Belgium head-to-head record, the latest Group A1 standings, key stats, and answers to the questions fans are searching for right now.
Quick Answer: Italy vs Belgium At A Glance
- Result: Belgium 2-0 Italy
- Competition: 2026-27 UEFA Nations League, League A, Group A1, Matchday 1
- Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy
- Scorers: Mika Godts (20'), Dodi Lukebakio (69')
- Italy head coach: Roberto Mancini (second spell)
- Belgium head coach: Mark van Bommel
- Group A1 standings after MD1: Belgium and France 3 pts each; Italy and Turkiye 0 pts each
- Next meeting: Belgium vs Italy, 15 November 2026 (Matchday 6)
How Belgium Beat Italy 2-0: Full Match Report
Italy made a lively start on home turf and had the better of the early exchanges, with Moise Kean forcing a save inside the opening 20 minutes. But Belgium struck against the run of play: Kevin De Bruyne slipped a pass through the Italian defence and Mika Godts finished coolly to make it 1-0 in the 20th minute. Nicolas Raskin also went close for the visitors in the same spell, twice testing the Italian goalkeeper before being booked shortly after.
Italy responded with spells of possession and finished the game with more of the ball, but Belgium's defence, marshalled without the injured Amadou Onana, held firm. The visitors doubled their advantage in the 69th minute when Dodi Lukebakio converted a low pass from Charles De Ketelaere to make it 2-0, a lead Belgium never looked like relinquishing. Both sides used all five substitutes, and the referee produced eight yellow cards in a feisty, high-intensity contest.
The defeat was Mancini's first competitive game back in charge of the Azzurri, following an overhaul of the squad that included nine uncapped call-ups and the enforced absence of Federico Dimarco and Bryan Cristante through injury. Belgium, missing first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois this window, got the perfect start under new head coach Mark van Bommel.
Italy vs Belgium: Key Match Stats
| Stat | Italy | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0 | 2 |
| Possession | 55.9% | 44.1% |
| Total shots | 21 | 19 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 8 |
| Corners | 4 | 8 |
| Passes completed | 590 (91.4%) | — |
| Goalkeeper saves | 6 | 6 |
| Yellow cards | 8 (combined) | |
Italy vs Belgium Head-to-Head Record
Italy has traditionally held the upper hand in this fixture. Across more than seven decades of meetings, the Azzurri hold a wide lead in wins over Belgium, with the two sides' most memorable recent duels including Italy's 2-1 win over Belgium in the Euro 2020 quarter-final and a further 2-1 victory in the 2021 Nations League third-place play-off. Heading into the September 2026 game, Italy had won four of the previous five head-to-head meetings, with the other ending in a draw.
Belgium's 2-0 win in Rome therefore broke a run that had strongly favoured Italy, and it also ended an impressive home streak for the Azzurri, who had won four of their previous five games at the Stadio Olimpico without conceding a single goal. For Belgium, it was a statement result to open the new Nations League cycle under a new head coach, and it came off the back of the Red Devils reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup earlier in the year.
Context matters here too: for the 2026-27 Nations League draw, UEFA's own access-list seeding placed Italy in Pot 2 (5th) and Belgium in Pot 3 (10th) based on the previous campaign, making Italy the nominally higher-ranked side going in — which made Belgium's away win an even bigger early shock in Group A1.
UEFA Nations League 2026-27: Group A1 Standings
Group A1 of League A features Italy, Belgium, France and Turkiye, each playing the other three teams home and away across six matchdays between September and November 2026. Here's how the table looks after Matchday 1:
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 2 | France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 3 | Turkiye | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 4 | Italy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
On the same matchday, France began the Zinedine Zidane era with a 1-0 away win at Turkiye, Kylian Mbappe scoring the only goal before being replaced through injury; Turkiye finished the match with ten men. That result means France and Belgium currently share top spot on points, separated only by goal difference, while Italy sit bottom of the group after one round.
Group A1 Remaining Fixtures
| Matchday | Date | Fixture |
|---|---|---|
| MD2 | 28 Sep 2026 | Italy vs Turkiye · Belgium vs France |
| MD3 | 2 Oct 2026 | France vs Italy · Belgium vs Turkiye |
| MD4 | 5 Oct 2026 | Italy vs Turkiye · France vs Belgium |
| MD5 | 12 Nov 2026 | Italy vs France · Turkiye vs Belgium |
| MD6 | 15 Nov 2026 | Belgium vs Italy · France vs Turkiye |
Top two finishers advance to the March 2027 quarter-finals; the third-placed side enters relegation play-offs against a League B runner-up, and the last-placed team drops straight into League B. That structure means Italy's next assignment — away at Turkiye on 28 September — is already a must-win game to keep pace with the group.
Why This Result Matters: Mancini's Rebuild vs Belgium's New Era
This game carried extra weight because of where both nations stand right now. Italy, four-time world champions, failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a shock that led to a rebuild under a returning Roberto Mancini, who used the September window to hand debuts to nine uncapped players. A home defeat to Belgium on Matchday 1 is a tough early marker for that project, though it arrived against a Belgium side that had already proven its quality by reaching the World Cup quarter-finals just months earlier.
For Belgium, the win is an ideal start for new head coach Mark van Bommel, achieved even without Thibaut Courtois in goal and Amadou Onana in midfield. With attacking talents like Kevin De Bruyne, Charles De Ketelaere, Dodi Lukebakio and breakout scorer Mika Godts all contributing, the Red Devils look well placed to challenge France at the top of Group A1 as the campaign continues into October and November.
Conclusion
Belgium's 2-0 win over Italy on 25 September 2026 was more than just three points — it flipped a head-to-head record that had recently favoured the Azzurri and sent an early message in a genuinely tight Group A1, where Belgium and France now share the lead and Italy sit bottom after round one. With five matchdays still to play through mid-November, Italy's rebuild under Mancini and Belgium's fresh start under van Bommel both have plenty of twists still to come. Bookmark this page — the standings above will keep shifting fast.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What was the final score between Italy and Belgium?
Belgium beat Italy 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on 25 September 2026, in Matchday 1 of Group A1 in the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League. Mika Godts opened the scoring in the 20th minute and Dodi Lukebakio doubled the lead in the 69th minute.
Who scored the goals in the Italy vs Belgium 2026 match?
Mika Godts scored in the 20th minute after being set up by Kevin De Bruyne, and Dodi Lukebakio added a second in the 69th minute, assisted by Charles De Ketelaere.
What is the head-to-head record between Italy and Belgium?
Italy has historically dominated the fixture, having won the large majority of their meetings across more than seven decades, including victories at Euro 2020 and the 2021 Nations League third-place play-off. Going into the 2026 match, Italy had won four of the previous five meetings, but Belgium's 2-0 win snapped that recent run.
Where do Italy and Belgium stand in the Nations League Group A1 table?
After Matchday 1, Belgium and France both sit on 3 points after opening wins, with Belgium ahead on goal difference. Italy and Turkiye are both on 0 points after opening defeats, with Italy below Turkiye on goal difference.
Why did Italy miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Italy failed to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, extending a difficult period for the four-time world champions. Roberto Mancini has since returned for a second spell as head coach to rebuild the squad, handing debuts to several uncapped players.
When do Italy and Belgium play each other next?
The reverse fixture is scheduled for 15 November 2026, when Belgium hosts Italy in Matchday 6 of the Group A1 league phase.
Who are the head coaches of Italy and Belgium?
Roberto Mancini is back in charge of Italy for a second spell, while Belgium is led by new head coach Mark van Bommel.
How many teams are in Italy and Belgium's Nations League group?
Group A1 of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League League A contains four teams: France, Italy, Belgium and Turkiye. Each plays the other three home and away across six matchdays.