Italy crisis continues with home loss to Belgium before unfilled stadium on Mancini's return

ROME (AP) — Six months on from failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, four-time champion Italy is still struggling.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

At the final whistle, Italy was loudly whistled off the pitch.

“When we lose, nobody is happy,” Mancini said. “When you lose, you can get jeered.”

Kevin De Bruyne — making his 125th international appearance — set up Godts on the left flank and the Belgium No. 10 cut inside and dribbled by three defenders before slotting past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Godts, who recently joined Paris Saint-Germain, sent defender Gianluca Mancini turning the wrong way and then fellow center back Diego Coppola came sliding in too late.

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

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

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

“We left gaps and conceded two avoidable goals,” Italy fullback Riccardo Calafiori said. “There’s a lot of work to do.”

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

It doesn’t get any easier for Italy, which visits Turkey on Monday and then goes to France next Friday before hosting Turkey in Bologna to conclude the first phase of Nations League matches.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Italy head coach Roberto Mancini reacts during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and Belgium in Rome, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere runs with the ball away from Italy's Diego Coppola during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and Belgium in Rome, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Belgium's Dodi Lukebakio celebrates with Mika Godts, left, after scoring his side's second goal during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and Belgium in Rome, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Belgium's Dodi Lukebakio, center, avoids Italy's Daniel Maldini to shoot and score his side's second goal during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and Belgium in Rome, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italy head coach Roberto Mancini gestures during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and Belgium in Rome, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italy's Pio Esposito reacts after failing to score during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and Belgium in Rome, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Word of an offer from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks on its nuclear program is emerging from the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s top cleric issued a rare statement, calling on the kingdom’s troops to defend the country from neighboring Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

In New York, where the wars in Iran and Gaza have dominated the U.N. agenda, the leaders of Iraq, Lebanon and Egypt were scheduled to address world leaders later Friday.

Here is a look at the latest news from the Middle East. More coverage of the U.N. General Assembly is available here.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Friday reporting that Tehran has put forth a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks on its nuclear program if the U.S. meets the conditions it has laid out. Talking to reporters at the U.N., Araghchi said the plan was delivered to Washington through Qatari mediators on the sidelines of the General Assembly. “If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened and normal maritime passage restored within seven days,” he said. “The choice now rests with the United States.” The seven-day clock will begin when the U.S. accepts the plan, Araghchi added. The White House said earlier Friday that U.S. officials are having positive and constructive conversations with mediators on the Iran war

With Saudi oil facilities, cities and ships off its coast coming under escalating attacks, the kingdom's top religious authority has called on soldiers to be prepared to defend the country from Iran-backed Houthis.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh al-Fawzan, who traditionally avoids weighing in on politics in a country that holds enormous influence among Muslims worldwide, issued the strongly worded statement. Al-Fawzan addressed his message to soldiers defending the kingdom's borders and members of the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen, peppering it with Quranic verses and religious edicts.

“Protecting this great nation, guarding its borders, defending against aggression and punishing those who want to harm any inch of it is one of the greatest duties,” he said.

The head of Yemen's internationally recognized government, Rashad al-Alimi, likewise urged Yemenis to rally behind Saudi-backed armed forces and allied groups in their fight with the Houthis.

Al-Alimi, who chairs the country’s Presidential Leadership Council, also called on Yemenis fighting alongside the Houthis to defect, announcing a general amnesty.

Al-Alimi said the aim of the fighting is to restore his government’s control over Sanaa, the capital, which the Houthis seized in 2014.

His call to arms came during his first speech since his Saudi-backed forces were routed from the western Red Sea coast by the Houthis’ lightning advance on the city of Mokha and islands in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where 12% of the world's trade passes.

The swift Houthi advances raised questions about the effectiveness of the Saudi-backed forces in the face of the disciplined, well-armed Houthis. The Houthi assault exploited divisions among the Saudi-backed forces and distrust among its leaders, leading to a chaotic troop withdrawal before the fall of Mokha.

Al-Alimi’s speech came on the 64th anniversary of the military coup that ousted the monarchy ruling northern Yemen, rooted in the Zaydi Shiite sect to which the Houthis also belong. The Houthis battled Yemen’s central government for years before sweeping down from their northern stronghold and seizing Sanaa.

The first joint meeting of the military chiefs of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey was held in Riyadh on Friday, following the signing of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement by the three countries, Pakistan’s military said in a statement.

The chiefs of defense forces and chiefs of general staff from the three countries reviewed the regional security situation and threats facing Saudi Arabia, according to the statement.

“They strongly resented the attacks targeting the Holy City of Mecca and civilian and economic infrastructure,” the statement said.

The military chiefs also praised the vigilance and professionalism of the Saudi armed forces in ensuring the safety of the people and security of the kingdom, it said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday in a post on X that Tehran supports Chinese President Xi Jinping’s call for a return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and renewed diplomacy between Iran and the United States.

Pezeshkian said he appreciated Xi’s “thoughtful and responsible support” for resolving differences through dialogue and diplomacy, adding that Iran backed returning to the understanding and honoring previously agreed commitments.

The post came a day after Pezeshkian met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Sharif said Pezeshkian told him the Islamabad memorandum remained “fully acceptable” to Iran and that Tehran was ready to take it forward.

The 14-point memorandum, mediated by Pakistan and signed in June, provided a framework for ending the conflict.

In a statement approved by its 15 members, the U.N.’s most powerful body condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The council called for “practical cooperation,” including with Yemen’s internationally recognized government, to prevent the Houthis from obtaining weapons, military material and training enabling them to carry out attacks.

It reminded all countries of their obligation to implement the U.N. arms embargo against the Houthis.

Israel’s military said two of its soldiers were killed in northern Gaza on Thursday while inspecting an unexploded Israeli drone near a military post. They were the first Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza in months.

Five other Israeli soldiers have been killed since last October’s ceasefire that attempted to halt a more than two-year war between Israel and the militant Hamas group.

While the heaviest fighting has subsided, almost daily Israeli fire has continued. Israeli forces have carried out repeated airstrikes and frequently fire on Palestinians near military-held zones and have killed 1,408 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.

This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.

A young man holds a Saudi flag while standing through the sunroof of a vehicle during celebrations marking Saudi Arabia's 96th National Day in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Baraa Anwer)

Palestinians walk amid war-damaged buildings in Gaza City, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

This image taken from undated video released by the Ansar Allah Media Office, the media arm of Yemen's Houthi rebels, on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, shows, according to the group, Houthi fighters firing rifles during clashes with Saudi-backed forces at an undisclosed location in Yemen. (Ansar Allah Media Office via AP)

Men perform the traditional Saudi sword dance known as the ardah during celebrations marking Saudi Arabia's 96th National Day in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Baraa Anwer)