Volpato Changes International Allegiance from Italy to Australia Before World Cup

The young player Cristian Volpato has made his final decision regarding his international career, choosing to represent the Australian national team just days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, despite having previously represented Italy's youth teams and being seen as one of the promising talents in Italian football.

Foulbato, 22 years old, was born in Sydney and holds both Australian and Italian citizenship. He had previously declined invitations to join the Australian national team, preferring to wait for an opportunity with the Italian senior team. However, after Italy missed the World Cup for the third consecutive time and he did not receive a call-up from the "Azzurri," he decided to officially change his sporting allegiance.

The Australian Football Federation confirmed that it received a letter of approval from the Italian Federation and sent all the required documents to FIFA to approve the process of changing the national team. The Sassuolo player also joined the Australian national team camp in Los Angeles in preparation for the World Cup, with strong expectations of his inclusion in the final squad.

The addition of Volpato is considered an important boost for coach Tony Popovic, especially after midfielder Riley McGree's injury and absence from the tournament. The young player hopes to make his debut in the "Socceroos" jersey during the upcoming friendly matches before the official announcement of the World Cup squad.