Article by Daniel Scorpie, Cosmin Nistor – published Monday, September 08, 2025 23:55 / Updated Tuesday, September 9, 2025:26
The fans of Italy boycotted the anthem of the opponents at the end of the qualifying match at the 2026 World Cup against Israel, held on neutral land in Hungary, at Debrecen. The Italians won with a score of 5-4.
When the national anthem of Israel began to sound at the Nagyerdei stadium, the Italian supporters turned their backs, completely ignoring the moment, without whistling or rolling.
Then about thirty banners appeared against Israel. “Stop” was the inscribed message. The Israeli fans, who were in the opposite stand, sang the anthem proudly. The Stadium in Debrecen, which can accommodate over 20,000 spectators, was almost empty, with only 2,300 supporters present.
Italy fans turned back to the hymn of Israel
The Israelis wore black banners in memory of the six victims of the terrorist attack in Jerusalem, today, soldier in a bus stop. The security measures in and around the stadium were strict.
The incident brings back the controversies between the two nations in the foreground. The same reaction had been registered with the previous match between Israel and Italy, in September 2024.
Besides, The Italian coach Association sent an open letter UEFA and FIFAdemanding the suspension of Israel, on the model of the sanction applied to Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, against the backdrop of the humanitarian crisis.
On the eve of the match, the Israeli government brought in Hungary 30 survivors of the Majdal Shams massacre from the Golan heights occupied by Israel. On July 7, 2024, a bomb fell on a football field where you were playing young Syrian football in the Druza community, between the ages of 10 and 16, killing 12 children. The attack was assigned Hezbollah.
Chaos in the stands, show with 9 goals
In contrast, Israel and Italy offered a spectacular match on the lawn. In the 5th minute, the Israelis had a goal canceled for the foul. Three minutes later, Manuel Locatelli sent his ball into his own gate, and Israel managed to open the score.
Squadra Azzurra managed to restore equality in the 40th minute, through the goal of Moses Kean. The start of the second half was bright: in the 52nd minute, Dor Peretz brought Israel to the advantage, but only two minutes later, Kean scored again and equalized at 2. In the 59th minute, Matteo Poltano brought Italy to the first time in this match, and in the last 9 minutes of play, Giacommo Raspadori increased two goals.
Israel tried to return: in the 87th minute, the autogol of the defender Alessandro Bastoni reduced the difference to a single goal, and in the 90th minute, Dor Peretz managed to restore equality again. However, at no two minutes, Sandro Tonali managed to score the decisive goal for Italy in the 90+1 minute, setting the final score: Israel 4-5 Italy.
