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Le Azzurre to face Belarus in qualifier play-off for 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Washington, D.C. (09/29/2026) – Washington Spirit forward Sofia Cantore and defender Lucia Di Guglielmo have been called up to the Italy Women’s National Team for the side’s upcoming matches, the Italian Football Federation announced today. Le Azzurre will take on Belarus next month in a qualifier play-off for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Originally from Lecco, Lombardy in northern Italy, Cantore has appeared in over 45 international matches and scored six goals for the Italy senior team, making her debut for the squad in December 2020. Since joining the Spirit in August 2025, Cantore has appeared in 46 matches for the team, tallying 11 goals and two assists.
Di Guglielmo hails from Pisa near Tuscany’s Ligurian Sea coast and has been a mainstay of the Italian women’s national team since making her senior debut in 2021 at 23 years old. The defender has appeared for Italy at two UEFA Women’s Euro tournaments (2022, 2025) and one FIFA Women’s World Cup (2023). Di Guglielmo joined the Spirit this past offseason and has appeared in 17 matches, quickly becoming a regular starter on the back line.
Italy’s October Schedule:
- vs Belarus | Friday, October 9 at 12:15 p.m. EDT (David Petriashvili Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia)
- vs Belarus | Tuesday, October 13 at 12:15 p.m. EDT (Stadio Artemio Franchi, Firenze, Italy)
The Spirit will take the pitch at Audi Field next on Saturday, October 17 when the side hosts rival Gotham FC. Kicking off at 12:30 p.m. EDT, tickets are available at WashingtonSpirit.com/tickets.
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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