Israel's World Cup qualifier against Italy on Tuesday evening will take place under heightened security in Udine, following a ceasefire that paused two years of conflict in Gaza. A pro-Palestinian march of up to 10,000 people is expected in the city centre hours before kick-off, though authorities plan to keep demonstrators away from the 25,000-seat Stadio Friuli on the outskirts.
Only just over 9,000 tickets have been sold for the match, with sales doubling in the past week. The fixture comes four days after the Gaza ceasefire took effect and a day after the release of remaining Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso expressed relief at the ceasefire, saying, 'We are happy that the war has been stopped.' He added that while he respects those protesting outside, his focus remains on the game.
Udine was chosen for the match due to its relative isolation near the Slovenian border, allowing road blocks and a heavy police presence, including helicopter patrols. The match has been placed in the highest-risk category. Similar protests occurred during Israel's previous qualifier in Norway, where around 1,000 demonstrators marched to the stadium.
Protests also targeted Italy's training centre in Florence ten days ago, part of a national strike. UEFA had considered suspending Israel over the war, and Udine Mayor Alberto Felice De Toni called for postponement. Gattuso said he has not discussed the situation with his players, focusing solely on the match itself.
Italy, seeking to avoid missing a third consecutive World Cup, need a win to close in on a playoff spot. They sit second in their group, six points behind Norway and three ahead of Israel, with both having played one game more. Only the group winner progresses directly to the 2026 tournament in North America, while the runner-up faces a playoff.
