Difficult but not impossible draw for Italy coached by Gianmarco Pozzecco. The Azzurri, placed in pot two thanks to their entry into the top eight in the World Cup, will play in Puerto Rico in the three-way group which in addition to the hosts (pot three) also includes the Bahrain national team, placed in pot six among the teams weaker.
The top two move on to the next round and therefore there shouldn't be any problems for Marco Spissu and his teammates. In the following round, semi-finals with the best two from the other group which includes Mexico, the Ivory Coast and Lithuania of Emantas Bendzius, a Dinamo winger who was injured during the national team at the World Cup.
The winners of the semi-finals will face each other in the final leading to the 2024 Olympics hosted by France.