Particle.news
Download on the App Store
22 ARTICLES
·
5h ago

Italy Beats Israel 3-0 in Udine to Secure World Cup Playoff Berth as Pro-Palestinian Protests Flare

A massive security operation followed by clashes at a large protest defined the matchday outside a sparsely attended stadium.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Group I - Italy v Israel - Bluenergy Stadium, Udine, Italy - October 14, 2025 Italy's Mateo Retegui celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates REUTERS/Matteo Ciambelli
Sandro Tonali of Italy looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Estonia and Italy at A Le Coq Arena on October 11, 2025 in Tallinn, Estonia.
The Israel national anthem was booed before kick-off of the World Cup qualifier with Italy in Udine
Image

Overview

  • Italy clinched at least a 2026 World Cup play-off place with a 3-0 win, featuring a Mateo Retegui brace and a late Gianluca Mancini header.
  • The match was classified highest risk, with rooftop snipers, helicopters and drones, a declared red zone, militarized escorts, and metal-detector checkpoints.
  • An estimated 10,000 people joined a pro-Palestinian march in Udine’s center kept several kilometers from the stadium by police cordons.
  • Clashes erupted at the end of the march as police used water cannon and tear gas; local broadcaster RAI reported about 20 arrests and three injured.
  • Attendance stayed low at roughly 9,000–10,000 in a 25,000-seat venue, and the fixture followed a Gaza ceasefire and the release of remaining living Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.