Ahead of his team’s tense 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Israel, Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso praised the “beautiful” Gaza peace agreement on Monday. The Azzurri will host Israel on Tuesday in Udine, a small city that will be the site of a pro-Palestinian demonstration and a massive security operation. Approximately 10,000 people, or about 10% of the city’s population, are expected to demonstrate against the match’s staging.
In anticipation of a crucial game for Italy’s attempt to qualify for a World Cup after missing the last two, Gattuso hopes that the ceasefire agreement mediated after two years of conflict, which includes an exchange of Israeli captives and Palestinian detainees that started on Monday, would relieve tensions.
It was a lovely sight, and we discussed it with every employee of the Football Federation (FIGC) at our hotel. All of us were ecstatic,” Gattuso told reporters.
“I have respect for the protesters who will be outside.” However, we are really pleased that the battle has been halted.
With a capacity of little over 25,000, the Bluenergy Stadium has sold 8,000 tickets for the match, according to the FIGC. Fans are largely avoiding a match that Italy’s interior ministry has classified as “high risk.”
Similar to a Nations League encounter between Italy and Israel in September of last year, Udine was chosen as the location to reduce the possibility of chaos, and approximately 1,000 police officers will be stationed there with the assistance of helicopters and drones.
Earlier this month, protesters demanded that the Italian national team’s training facility in Florence be closed during widespread strike action in favour of the Palestinians.
Mayor Alberto Felice De Toni of Udine has also made unsuccessful attempts to postpone the match.
After the Fiorentina striker failed to recover from an ankle sprain sustained during Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Estonia, Gattuso will be without Moise Kean.
The 25-year-old Kean has scored six goals in his last four games for Italy, including the opening goal in the Group I match in Tallinn over the weekend, so his absence is a blow to the nation.
According to Gattuso, “we knew that there was little chance of Moise recovering in time.”
“We gave him a round of applause for what he’s given us over the last few days, and he ate with the rest of the team today.”
With one game remaining, Italy is three points ahead of third-place Israel and six points behind leaders Norway in the five-team group.
Only first place offers direct qualification for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico finals the following year; a victory in Udine will guarantee Italy at least second place and a position in the playoffs.
However, given the 19-goal margin between the two teams, Italy, who have three games remaining, would need Norway to make a mistake against Estonia next month in order to have a realistic chance of finishing first.
On November 16, Italy will host Norway at the San Siro in their last group match.
