Colored by Pro-Palestine Protests, Italy Defeats Israel in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

The 2026 World Cup Qualifier between Italy and Israel not only brought high tension on the field but also outside the stadium. Thousands took to the streets in Udine, Italy, voicing solidarity with Palestine and demanding the match be canceled amidst the ongoing Gaza conflict.

As reported by TRTWorld on Wednesday, approximately 10,000 protesters filled the streets of this northeastern Italian city. They carried banners, chanted "Free Palestine," and displayed strong messages like "Show Israel the red card."

Despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas earlier in the week, public emotions remained intense. The protest initially proceeded peacefully. However, tension arose when a small group of demonstrators attempted to approach the Bluenergy Stadium area, the venue for the Group I 2026 World Cup Qualifier in the European Zone.

Security forces, unwilling to take risks, acted swiftly. Police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse the crowd.

Over 1,000 police officers and military personnel were deployed. Helicopters and drones were even used to monitor the situation from the air.

Police restricted crowd movement and held protest lines kilometers away from the stadium. Minor clashes were unavoidable just before kick-off.

Inside the stadium, Italy remained focused. They overcame external pressure and secured a convincing 3–0 victory over Israel. However, Italy's coach Gennaro Gattuso admitted the situation affected the team's morale.

"There’s no point hiding it. Today was not an easy day, for us or for you," Gattuso told reporters after the match.

He also acknowledged concerns that the match could have been canceled.

"We came here knowing the atmosphere wouldn't be like a party," he said.

On the other hand, protesters voiced a larger demand. They urged FIFA to suspend Israel's participation in international competitions, similar to the global football body's suspension of Russia in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine.

Despite the earlier tension, the match proceeded to completion without major disruptions. (Antara)