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South American teams Bolivia and Venezuela secured notable wins, with Bolivia defeating Brazil 1-0 and Venezuela losing to Colombia 6-3. Portugal and Norway achieved important victories in European qualifiers, while Jamaica and Honduras lead their regional groups. The qualification race for the 2026 World Cup continues with key matches across continents.
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Italy's recent World Cup qualification match against Israel ended in a 4-4 draw, with Italy narrowly securing the points thanks to a late goal from Sandro Tonali. The game was marked by tactical errors and emotional moments, impacting Italy's chances of automatic qualification. The match also coincided with a national tragedy in Israel, adding emotional weight.
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Mass protests across Italy occurred on Saturday, driven by a national strike supporting Palestinians and condemning Israeli actions in Gaza. The protests responded to the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla by Israeli forces, with demonstrations including calls to suspend Israel from international sports and political condemnation from Prime Minister Meloni. The protests were largely peaceful but disrupted transportation and services nationwide.
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Italy's match against Israel in Udine was played amid heightened security due to protests over the Gaza conflict. Thousands demonstrated, some clashed with police, and security measures included a large police presence, drones, and roadblocks. The match, crucial for Italy's qualification, proceeded despite tensions and low ticket sales.
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European football qualifiers see key wins for England, Norway, and Portugal, with Italy and Spain also progressing. Pro-Palestinian protests occurred around Italy's match, amid security concerns. Cristiano Ronaldo set a scoring record, and Norway's Haaland reached 50 goals for his country. The story highlights qualification progress and related protests.
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France secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Ukraine at Parc des Princes, marking the 10th anniversary of the 2015 Paris attacks with a minute's silence. The match featured key goals from Mbappe, Olise, and Ekitike, and was held in a charged emotional atmosphere.