Italy is set to play Israel in Udin’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers, but there was a call for boycotts.
Released on October 3, 2025
Palestinian protesters approached the gates of Italian football team training centres on Friday and called for the cancellation of upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Israel due to the war with Gaza.
The protest was part of a nationwide strike that was responding to blocking the Israeli military’s aid fleet.
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Italy is scheduled to host Israel in Udine on October 14th. However, UEFA is considering halting Israel in the war. The players were not at the CoverCiano Training Center in Florence, but the team will be called up there on Monday.
The protesters appeared to behave peacefully on the other side of the street from the football complex, and apparently held an aloft on a banner read in Italian, saying, “Let’s stop Zionism with resistance.” The protest leader grabbed the microphone and cried out, “How can we allow Israel, a Zionist and criminal nation, to play a football match?”
Dozens of protests have erupted across Italy since Wednesday night after the Israeli Navy intercepted the global SUMUD fleet and detained activists.
On Friday, workers and students were taken to the streets after solidarity with the Palestinians and the fleet sought a day’s general strike. Hundreds of trains have been cancelled or delayed, and many private and public schools have been closed, as well as some domestic flights.
The Italian Football Coaches Association (AIAC) pushed Israel to be suspended from international competition for the war with Gaza in August.
