Italy should have no issues brushing Moldova aside, though. They demolished the European minnows the last time they crossed paths, winning 6–0 in an international friendly in 2020. FIFA’s 154th-ranked country have lost both their qualifiers to date, conceding eight across defeats to Norway and Estonia.

Moldova is a country torn between pro-Western and pro-Russian factions. In September this year, Moldovans will vote for a new leadership, and pro-European observers are worried that Russia will try to influence the outcome of these elections. Why? Natasha Matyukhina from BBC Monitoring explains.

Though we’re still in the early stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying, four-time world champions Italy already have no margin for error. Monday’s home clash against continental minnows

ROME — The fear that four-time champion Italy will fail to qualify for a third straight World Cup has cost coach Luciano Spalletti his job. Spalletti announced Sunday that he is being fired and will leave after Monday’s World Cup qualifier against Moldova.

Dundee United have agreed a fee to sign 22-year-old Moldova centre-half Iurie Iovu from Croatian club Istra 1961. (Daily Record), external. Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full

The parties discussed promising areas of Belarusian-Moldovan cooperation. The main emphasis was placed on the need to strengthen bilateral trade and economic interaction.

Speaking to The Times of Israel in Jerusalem, Mihai Popsoi calls for deeper defense, agricultural, tourism ties; country's ascension to the EU expected to add to pro-Israel bloc

More false videos alleging criminality and health issues in Moldova and attributed to Euronews are circulating online, with some even being posted by accounts posing as Euronews staff. One video claims that Moldova ranks first in the number of STD carriers ...