Warning for Italy vs. Israel: ‘More people outside stadium than inside’ | OneFootball

The Mayor of Udine is not looking forward to hosting the Italy vs. Israel World Cup qualifier, pointing out due to protests and security restrictions ‘there will be 6,000 inside the stadium and 10,000 outside.’

The match is scheduled to go ahead on the evening of October 14 at the Stadio Friuli, the home to club side Udinese.

There have been strong calls to boycott the game in protest at the current situation in Gaza, but as UEFA and FIFA resisted an appeal to suspend Israel from qualifying, it will go ahead.

Italy to host Israel team in Udine

UDINE, ITALY – MAY 25: A general view inside the stadium before kick off at the Serie A match between Udinese and Fiorentina at Stadio Friuli on May 25, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

The situation is particularly tense because Italy has seen huge protests and even a general strike in recent weeks, so those are expected to focus on the venue of this game.

“It would’ve been a better idea to play it behind closed doors, to avoid throwing fuel on the fire,” Mayor of Udine Alberto Felice De Toni told LaPresse news agency.

“We will end up with 6,000 people inside the stadium and 10,000 outside. It is a situation that was rather forced upon us, the situation is dramatic and paradoxical, there are going to be more people outside than in the arena.”

There are peace talks in process to end the war and this allowed the Mayor to retain some hope for a future event in the same stadium.

“I would love one day for Udine to host a friendly match between Israel and Palestine, as it would mean we have two States and peace.”

The Stadio Friuli was already used recently to host the UEFA Supercup between Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain.