Italy vs Israel Preview

The Bluenergy Stadium in Udine sets the stage for a fascinating World Cup qualifying encounter as the Azzurri welcome a resilient Israeli side in what promises to be a compelling test of Italian dominance against determined opposition. Italy host Israel on 14th October 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 19:45 GMT, as both nations navigate the treacherous path toward the 2026 World Cup. This fixture arrives at a crucial juncture in the qualifying campaign, with Italy seeking to consolidate their position at the summit of their group while Israel desperately hunt for points to keep their World Cup dreams alive. The intimate surroundings of the Bluenergy Stadium will witness a clash of contrasting fortunes and philosophies, as Italian flair and attacking prowess meet Israeli resilience and tactical discipline in a match that could define both teams’ qualification trajectories.

Italy arrive at this encounter riding a wave of momentum that has seen them establish themselves as one of Europe’s most formidable qualifying forces. The Azzurri’s recent form has been nothing short of spectacular, with a commanding 3-1 victory over Estonia on October 11th extending their impressive run. That triumph came after an entertaining 5-4 victory over Israel in their previous World Cup qualifier on September 8th, a nine-goal thriller that showcased both Italy’s attacking brilliance and defensive vulnerabilities. Their campaign began in earnest with a dominant 5-0 demolition of Estonia in early September, while their summer fixtures produced a 2-0 victory over Moldova and a solitary defeat – a 3-0 reverse against Norway in June that serves as their only blemish in an otherwise exceptional qualification campaign. The head-to-head record heavily favors the Azzurri, who have won all five of the last five encounters, including a 4-1 triumph in October 2024, a 2-1 success in September 2024, a 1-0 win in September 2017, and a comprehensive 3-1 victory in September 2016.

Israel’s qualifying campaign has been characterized by frustration and near-misses, with the visitors struggling to translate competitive performances into positive results. Their most recent outing saw them suffer a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Norway on October 11th, a chastening defeat that exposed their defensive frailties against elite opposition. That loss followed their thrilling 5-4 defeat to Italy in September, a match that demonstrated their attacking capabilities while highlighting defensive deficiencies that have plagued their campaign. Earlier in September, they secured a crucial 4-0 victory over Moldova, their most convincing performance of the qualification period, while the summer brought a 1-0 triumph over Slovakia in a friendly before a 3-1 defeat to Estonia in June. The statistical comparison reveals the gulf in quality, with Italy boasting superior metrics across the board, though Israel have shown they can cause problems when given space to exploit. Team news adds another layer of intrigue to this encounter, with both sides dealing with selection dilemmas that could influence the tactical approach. Italy will field their strongest available XI as they look to maintain their perfect home record, while Israel must regroup mentally after their humbling in Norway and find a way to tighten their defensive structure. Fans across Italy can watch this crucial qualifier on RAI 1 or RaiPlay, while Israeli supporters can tune in via 5Sport. International audiences can access coverage through Great Britain and Ireland on Amazon Prime Video, German viewers can watch on DAZN Germany or Amazon Prime Video, and American fans can stream on Amazon Prime Video or ViX, ensuring this pivotal qualifier reaches a global audience.

🇮🇹 Italy Recent Form

Last Five Games				Competition	W/D/L
Estonia	1 – 3	Italy	Oct 11, 2025	World Cup Qualifying	✓
Israel	4 – 5	Italy	Sep 8, 2025	World Cup Qualifying	✓
Italy	5 – 0	Estonia	Sep 5, 2025	World Cup Qualifying	✓
Italy	2 – 0	Moldova	Jun 9, 2025	World Cup Qualifying	✓
Norway	3 – 0	Italy	Jun 6, 2025	World Cup Qualifying	❌

🇮🇱 Israel Recent Form

Last Five Games				Competition	W/D/L
Norway	5 – 0	Israel	Oct 11, 2025	World Cup Qualifying	❌
Israel	4 – 5	Italy	Sep 8, 2025	World Cup Qualifying	❌
Moldova	0 – 4	Israel	Sep 5, 2025	World Cup Qualifying	✓
Israel	1 – 0	Slovakia	Jun 10, 2025	International Friendly	✓
Estonia	3 – 1	Israel	Jun 6, 2025	World Cup Qualifying	❌

⚔️ Head to Head Record

Last Five Games				Competition
Israel	4 – 5	Italy	Sep 8, 2025	World Cup Qualifying
Italy	4 – 1	Israel	Oct 14, 2024	Nations League
Israel	1 – 2	Italy	Sep 9, 2024	Nations League
Italy	1 – 0	Israel	Sep 5, 2017	World Cup Qualifying
Israel	1 – 3	Italy	Sep 5, 2016	World Cup Qualifying

📺 TV Listings / Streaming

Country	Broadcaster
🇮🇹 Italy	RAI 1, RaiPlay
🇮🇱 Israel	5Sport
🇬🇧 Great Britain	Amazon Prime Video
🇮🇪 Ireland	Amazon Prime Video
🇩🇪 Germany	DAZN Germany, Amazon Prime Video
🇺🇸 USA	Amazon Prime Video, ViX
🇨🇦 Canada	DAZN Canada, Amazon Prime Video, VIVATLN
🇦🇺 Australia	Stan Sport
🇵🇹 Portugal	Sport TV Multiscreen, Sport TV3
🇵🇱 Poland	Polsat Box Go, Polsat Sport 3