Cristian Volpato has selected Australia over Italy.
The Socceroos announced on Friday evening the Italy-based young gun, who was born and raised in Sydney, will be joining the train-on squad and pre-camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Football Australia said it had “lodged all requisite paperwork to FIFA and is now awaiting a Change of Association Clearance from the world governing body to ratify Volpato’s decision to switch allegiance to Australia after representing Italy at youth level.
“Football Australia has received a release letter from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). Once cleared, Volpato will be eligible to officially represent the CommBank Socceroos.”
Volpato, a 22-year-old attacking midfielder and winger, plays for Sassuolo in Serie A after transferring for a €7.5 million fee from Roma, where he debuted aged 18.
His international allegiance has been a major point of contention ever since he began representing Italy at youth level in 2022.
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic had cut his squad down to 29 ahead of a pre-World Cup friendly against Mexico on Sunday, needing to name just 26 players for the tournament.
Volpato is expected to be named in the final squad, having turned down the opportunity for the 2022 World Cup.
“I spoke to the coach,” Volpato said back in March.
“They’ve been wanting to call me to Australia for a few years, but I grew up watching the Azzurri, even the coach, and I’m waiting for Italy, then we’ll see how the rest goes.”
Popovic and assistant coach Paul Okon travelled to Italy to meet with Volpato at the time.
“We told him about our plans, what we’re trying to do, and then the rest is up to him,” Popovic said.
“There were no ultimatums or any pressure. If he wants to play for Australia, whether it’s in three months, six months, a year … they’re young men, you have to respect the decisions they have to make.
“He’s gone through the junior process, a lot of that with the Italian national teams. He’s a quality young player that has a lot of potential.
“He hasn’t played a lot of football, but recently, the last four games, he’s come on in all of them … and now that he’s indicated he’s open to the idea (of playing for Australia), if he decides (to represent the Socceroos), he comes on the list of our 50 players.
“Then we will monitor him and be in regular dialogue with him in terms of medically and any support that we can give, but we’ll see whether that happens or doesn’t.”
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Italy again failed to qualify for the World Cup with some Aussie-based pundits saying the Socceroos should ignore Volpato, who had made it clear he dreamt of playing for Italy growing up.
“Growing up with the 2006 (World Cup win), I had all the players on my wall. Obviously my dad, my nono, they were all just mad crazy about the Azzurri,” he said.
“And obviously them being my idols, you grow up and you follow your dad or your nono, so it’s always been my dream.”
But former Australia and Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich argued the national team should not be turning its back on anyone who qualifies as an Australian.
“If he’s good enough, of course they should,” Bosnich said on SEN in February.
“Obviously he must be good if we’re talking about him.
“Why not? Why not try? It’s okay. There’s not a problem.
“I do recall Tony Popovic in a press conference saying ‘if we have to sell the jersey, we’ve got a problem’.
“I understand where he’s coming from but you can always keep your options open.
“Some people will say selfish, whatever, they have their own reasons.
“We as a nation, and we’re not the only nation – Italy itself at the moment is having problems with their young talent in comparison to their past, they’ve won four World Cups – but we as a nation as well, in my opinion, cannot afford to lose out on good players that could parade themselves and help Australia further themselves along in world football.”