Italy vs Israel Preview & Prediction | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (UEFA)
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Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy are in a very tough situation to try and qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but the Azzurri simply have to keep winning as they place Israel this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Disney+
Key stats
- Italy have won seven and drawn one of their previous eight international matches against Israel.
- Italy have lost only two of their last 15 World Cup qualifying matches (W8 D5). They have won the four most recent.
- Italy have lost only one of their 62 World Cup qualifying matches in Italy (W50 D11). That was their 1-0 defeat against North Macedonia in the play-offs for Qatar 2022.
- Only one of Israel’s last 26 World Cup qualifying matches have finished level. That was a 1-1 at home against Scotland in March 2021.
- There has been a total of 71 goals scored in Israel’s last 14 World Cup qualifying matches (an average of 5.07 per match).
Italy vs Israel prediction
Italy come into this one on the back of a 3-1 victory against Estonia in Tallinn the other day to make it three wins from three for Gennaro Gattuso’s side since his appointment. Such is the goal difference as a result of Norway’s 11-1 win against Moldova, the Italians are almost certainly set to have to settle for yet another playoff.
They now face an Israel side that most recently suffered a 5-0 annihilation at the hands of Norway in Oslo the other day with another hat-trick scored by Erling Braut Haaland. The Israelis did show fight against Italy in a dramatic 5-4 loss in Hungary last month, but that is the only game in which they have shown a really high level of quality.
Italy have not yet convinced entirely under Gattuso but they are now on a winning streak and scoring goals, and that should continue in Udine this midweek.
Italy vs Israel tip: Italy to win & over 2.5 goals
