Italian manager Gattuso expresses Gaza Heartache in the midst of calls to boycott the qualifying match of Israel

Gennaro Gattuso said on Tuesday that he felt heartache during the two-year war in Gaza prior to two 2026 World Cup qualifications, one of which will be against Israel.

The Azzurri takes it on Saturday in Tallinn, but all eyes are aimed at the next collision with Israel in Udine next Tuesday, after massive Pro-Palestinian protests were held in Italy last week.

On Friday – a day of strike campaign to support the Palestinians – demonstrators went to the National Training Center of Italy in Florence to demand that the competition would be canceled, and there will be more protests in Udine prior to the next week’s competition.

«We know that we have to play the game, because otherwise we lose 3-0 … I will say it is very sad to see what happens to innocent people, children, it hurts my heart to see that,» Gattuso reporters said on Tuesday.

Also read: Security problems overshadow the qualifications of Israel in the World Cup in Norway and Italy

Italy was the scene of some of Europe’s greatest protests in the past weekend against the constant offensive of Israel in Gaza, which was fueled two years ago when Hamas militants crossed the border to attack Israeli communities.

But because of the levels of death and destruction that are processed on Gaza, there have been more and more calls for Israel to be banned for international sport.

Ticket sales for Tuesday’s competition have been slow with large empty spaces expected in the Bluenergy Stadium, which will be the center of a large security operation.

«It will not be an easy atmosphere because there will be 10,000 people outside the stadium and 5,000-6,000 in it,» Gattuso continued.

«We want to be eligible for the World Cup and I would rather have played a home game for an enthusiastic audience as we did in Bergamo (for a 5-0 win over Estonia) a month ago.»

Italy, which was not eligible for the last two world cup tournaments, is second in group I, level at nine points with Israel and six behind leaders Norway, with a competition in hand on both rivals.

Only the top location in the group provides direct qualification for the final of next summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the second place that a Play-off place offers.

In September, Italy came as victorious 5-4 against Israel in a poorly hosted match organized in Hungary, where the Israeli national team played its home games since the country launched his offensive in Gaza after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

The small group of Italian fans who are present in the Hungarian city of Debrecen on 8 September turned his back on the field during the Israeli national anthem, while angry also called from parts of the stadium and supporters showed banners with the word «stop».

Published on October 07, 2025