With only six games remaining before the start of the World Championship, there is speculation that the Italian squad will be rested, which could see them play for their first game in six weeks.
However, this is not the case.
As reported by ESPN FC, Italy coach Antonio Conte told reporters at the squad briefing that there would be no game on Monday.
However if the squad does not have time to rest, the squad would be included in the next stage of the qualifying process.
Conte confirmed the news in a tweet on Monday morning.
This is not a case of ‘we play one game, then we rest’ , it is a case where there are not enough players for the first game, so there will be no Italy squad for the tournament, he added.
Conte, who had the Italian side in his squad for Euro 2016, has made a number of changes since his side reached the quarter-finals of the tournament.
The first change came in the form of the starting 11, with Andrea Pirlo, Diego Costa and Leonardo Bonucci starting at left-back.
Pirlo is the best Italian left-sided player of the season and is expected to be fit for the group stages.
Bonucci has played a key role in Conte’s squad and he is expected at left back in this fixture, as is Juan Cuadrado.
The Italy team for the 2018 World Cup will be based at the Stadio San Paolo, which is the largest stadium in Italy.
The World Cup is the first time Italy will be playing in a stadium that is bigger than a football field, but the stadium is far from the smallest of the five venues.
It has been reported that the stadium will be smaller than the Wembley Stadium in England.
Italy will host the World Club Cup in June 2018, which will be played at the San Siro, the largest venue in Italy’s football league.
Italy’s players will be at home in the first leg against the Netherlands on June 15.