Italy missed the World Cup finals in 2018 and 2022 and now has to avoid another fiasco. The Italians have not made it past the group stage of a World Cup since winning the title in 2006.
Around 10,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested in Udine on Tuesday against the hosting of the game. 1,000 police officers, supported by helicopters and drones, kept the crowd away from the Stadio Friuli, which was significantly less than half full. In the city center of the northeastern Italian city, the authorities significantly increased security measures on match day.
So far, 26 teams have already qualified for the upcoming finals. The three hosts USA, Canada and Mexico are automatically there.
Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Uzbekistan made it into Asia’s elimination. So far, Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia, Cape Verde and South Africa are participating from Africa. Defending champions Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay qualified from South America. So far, England will be taking part from Europe. New Zealand has bought the ticket in Oceania.