Anti-Israel protesters clash with police ahead of World Cup qualifier in Italy

UDINE, Italy — Italy’s 2026 World Cup qualifier with Israel is prefaced by clashes between pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel demonstrators and police as thousands of people marched through Udine in anger at the hosting of a match they felt should not be played.

Over 1,000 police officers and army personnel were deployed while helicopters and drones flew overhead to keep a watch on a demonstration, which was kept several kilometers away from the Bluenergy Stadium hosting the Group I fixture.

There was little chance of protesters reaching the stadium as checkpoints were put up in a ring around it, with spectators having to pass concrete barriers and metal detectors in order to watch a match, which is key to Italy’s bid to ensure they qualify for a World Cup for the first time since 2014.

The security operation was designed to stop rioting and ensure no one got near the ground or the Israeli team. The march started peacefully in warm autumn sunshine, but ended with police using a water cannon and tear gas on some of the marchers who threw rocks at officers.

There was little sign of violent disorder when the march started at around 6 p.m. local time (1600GMT), with the loudest noise coming from drumming and the sound systems, which accompanied people of all ages as they danced. They waved Palestinian flags and banners that read “show Israel the red card.”

“There are no more bombs, and that makes us happy, but the problem with this peace plan is that there is no talk of a Palestinian state,” says Amer Hasan, a 61-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank who has been in Italy since moving to study 42 years ago.

“There’s no talk of self-determination, no talk about the West Bank nor of the fate of Gaza… it seems like Gaza will be governed by Tony Blair and Donald Trump, without any involvement from the Palestinians.

“We shouldn’t be playing this match because a team that represents a nation that has committed a genocide is playing.”

Hasan is a representative of Palestinian communities in the regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, who, with four other associations, organized Tuesday’s march and welcomed more than 340 activist groups from all over Italy.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.