When the Calendar Plays Hardball: Italy Pushes for a Quick Camp as Milan Fumes at the US Star's Injury

Timetable pressure for Italy ahead of World Cup playoffs

In an executive board meeting, Gabriele Gravina, president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), said that tweaking the Serie A schedule could help the national team prepare for the 2026 World Cup playoff ties, though the move might prove difficult to implement.

Nevertheless, Gravina expressed hope that Gennaro Gattuso, the national team coach, could be granted a short training camp in February 2026.

He spoke after the federation’s executive board met today, responding to reports that the federation was weighing delaying some league games to give Gattuso more time to prepare for the playoff set for March 2026.

He told Football Italia that moving a match date is “hard to do” given the schedule’s structure; it’s a “far-fetched” option.

This concern stems from the long gap between the upcoming international window in November and the next one in March 2026, during which Gattuso would have only a few days to prepare.

Rather than pressing for an official postponement, Gravina urged Serie A to apply “sound logic” to arrange a short national-team camp.

He added, “We hope for the league’s sensible approach to organize two compact camps, one around February 9-10, 2026, to shorten the gap between the November 16 window and the March 26 window.”

Gravina stressed that those months would be long and that the coach would not have a chance to see players together, and that any decision would consider clubs’ availability domestically and abroad.

Italy sits second in Group 9 with 15 points after five wins and one defeat, having scored 18 and conceded eight.

It is likely to finish second and enter the playoff, with final decisions to be taken after the remaining two matches and the playoff draw on November 21, 2025.

Italy’s next assignment is away to Moldova on November 13, before closing the qualifying by hosting Norway at San Siro on November 16.

Milan’s discontent with the United States national team

Meanwhile, Italian media reports describe Milan’s growing frustration with the United States national team over their handling of star Christian Pulisic, who could miss several weeks of Serie A action.

Pulisic sustained a hamstring tear while on duty for the US in a friendly against Australia on Tuesday night, with the American camp accused of taking unnecessary risks with the player.

La Repubblica reported that Pulisic had ankle pain even before the international break and did not train “in top condition” ahead of the friendly against Australia. He featured from the start, but his cameo lasted only around 30 minutes before he left the pitch with a fresh problem in the hamstrings.

However, coach Mauricio Pochettino kept him on the field for the friendly, yet the substitution came with a fresh injury to the hamstrings, prompting Milan to react with concern.

It is expected that Pulisic will return to Italy on Thursday and undergo thorough medical tests on Friday to determine the extent of the issue.

Early estimates in La Repubblica suggest a three-to-four-week layoff from league duty, fueling Milan’s confusion about risking a key player who was not in peak physical shape for a friendly that they were favored to win easily.

In the absence of the top scorer, Milan will rely on Christopher Nkunku and Santiago Gimenez in their upcoming league match against Fiorentina on Sunday.

Milan sit third in the Serie A table on 13 points after six rounds, with four wins, one draw, one defeat, nine goals for and three against, two points behind leaders Napoli and second-placed Roma.

The Rossoneri are preparing to host Fiorentina on Sunday, then welcome Pisa on October 24, before a trip to Atalanta on October 28, and a big clash with Roma on November 2.

Punchline 1: If calendars played football, Gravina would sign them to a two-year contract—finally, a season that actually starts on time.

Punchline 2: The only thing more delayed than kickoffs this week is my coffee—because even caffeine needs a proper kickoff time.