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ROME (AP) — Israel’s World Cup qualifying match at Italy next week is expected to attract more pro-Palestinian protesters outside the soccer stadium in Udine than ticket-holding spectators inside the arena.
Protesters already approached the gates of Italy’s training center in Florence last week to demand that the match isn’t played because of the war in Gaza — part of a national strike that saw millions of activists take to the streets.
“It’s not going to be a calm environment,” Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso acknowledged Tuesday from inside the Coverciano training center that was targeted. “There will be 10,000 people outside the stadium and 5-6,000 inside the stadium.”
As of Monday, only 4,000 tickets were sold for next Tuesday’s match at Stadio Friuli.
While UEFA had been considering suspending Israel over the war and Udine Mayor Alberto Felice De Toni had called for the game to be postponed, with Italy desperately attempting to avoid failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, the four-time champion doesn’t plan to risk not playing.
“We have to play this match. Because if we don’t, we’ll lose it 3-0,” Gattuso said, referring to the rule for forfeited matches. “(Italian soccer federation) president (Gabriele) Gravina explained that very well.”
There was also tension on the field between the two squads after the final whistle when Italy edged Israel 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller last month in neutral Hungary — where Israel has been playing its “home” matches.
Tuesday marked two years since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel plunged the region into the devastating war,
The protesters in Italy and elsewhere have also been reacting to an international aid mission blocked by Israeli forces.
“It’s upsetting to see what’s happening to innocent people and children,” Gattuso said. “It hurts your heart.”
Italy and Israel are level six points behind group leader Norway, with only the first-place finisher in the group to qualify directly for next year’s tournament in North America.
The second-place finishers progress to a playoff — the stage where Italy was eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia and ruled out of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively.
“Considering that we’re trying to get to the World Cup and we need to give our absolute all, I’m sure you can understand that I would have preferred to play a home game with the enthusiasm that we saw in Bergamo a month ago,” Gattuso said, referring to a 5-0 win over Estonia.
Israel could also face protests during a visit to Norway on Saturday.
The Norwegian soccer federation pledged to give its profits from ticket sales for the game in Oslo to humanitarian work in Gaza by Doctors Without Borders.
Italy played Israel in Udine last October in the Nations League. That game went off without incident amid a heavy police presence and despite a pro-Palestinian demonstration before the game. Italy won 4-1.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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