Overview

• Italy secured second place in Group I with a 3–0 win, confirming participation in the World Cup playoffs scheduled for March 26 and 31.
• Mateo Retegui scored twice and Gianluca Mancini added a header, with Gianluigi Donnarumma producing key saves in a largely sparse Bluenergy Stadium.
• Udine saw a large pro-Palestine march of about 10,000 people near the Israeli team’s hotel, with media reporting clashes with police, and coordinated protests occurred in other Italian cities.
• Authorities classified the match as risk level 4 and deployed extensive measures including concrete barriers, checkpoints, drones and helicopter surveillance, reduced stadium capacity to 16,000, and sold roughly 8,000 tickets.
• UEFA and FIFA took no decision to suspend Israel; FIGC president Gabriele Gravina defended playing the match, broadcasters limited airing non-competitive incidents, and FIGC arranged a donation to Médecins du Monde via the UEFA Foundation.