Udine is currently on high alert as Italy gears up to host Israel in a significant soccer match. The match, set to take place on Monday, carries extra weight due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, which has recently extended to Lebanon following a prolonged war in Gaza. This match will mark the first time Israel has played outside of neutral Hungary this year. Since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7 last year, the national soccer team played matches in Kosovo and Andorra last November. All subsequent Israel matches have been held in Hungary, including last month’s away game against Belgium in the Nations League, after Belgium’s soccer federation declined to host the game due to security concerns.
Italian coach Luciano Spalletti expressed his perspective on the significance of the match, stating, “We are going to play this match with the hope of convincing ever more people of the wrongness of war. There are many Israelis who don’t want it, and we must convince ever more people that this is something that has to stop.” Despite the gravity of the event, ticket sales for Monday’s match have been relatively low, with fewer than 12,000 tickets sold, less than half the stadium’s 25,000-seat capacity. Stringent security measures have been put in place around the stadium, with certain areas blocked off 48 hours prior to kick-off and designated as a “Red Zone”, accessible only to fans holding tickets who can pass through tall metal barriers. Fans have been advised to arrive early due to thorough security checks. Furthermore, to bolster security, hundreds of additional police officers have been drafted from surrounding areas.
In light of tense circumstances, a pro-Palestine demonstration is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. local time in the city centre, just under four hours before the match is set to commence, with an estimated attendance of around 4,000 people anticipated. These proceedings and the heightened security measures underscore the significance and potential sensitivities surrounding the upcoming match between Italy and Israel in Udine.