Overview

• The FIGC kept the fixture on the calendar despite boycott calls, with president Gabriele Gravina arguing cancellation would harm Italy’s qualification chances and benefit Israel.
• Protest organizers expect roughly 10,000 people from hundreds of groups to march through central Udine in the late afternoon before kickoff.
• Around 1,000 police, Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza, soldiers and specialist units are deployed with checkpoints, concrete barriers, a red zone, and helicopter and drone surveillance.
• Local reporting described snipers on rooftops near the Israeli team hotel as authorities sealed off the area and restricted access to the stadium precinct.
• Stadium capacity was reduced to 16,000 seats, with about 8,000 tickets sold and roughly 50 Israel supporters expected, while the national police denied reports of Mossad agents and some outlets said broadcasters would limit protest images on air.