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Italy secured a 3-1 victory over Estonia in Tallinn on Saturday in their 2026 World Cup qualifier, setting up a Group I encounter with Israel that is expected to be overshadowed by pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui, and Pio Esposito scored for Italy, moving Gennaro Gattuso’s side three points ahead of Israel in second place, a position that would offer a play-off spot for the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Norway lead the group by six points and with a goal difference of 19, higher than Italy, and are all but assured of qualification.
Estonia, who pulled one back through Rauno Sappinen in the 76th minute following a mistake from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, remain on three points and are eliminated from contention.
Kean opened the scoring in the fifth minute with his sixth goal in four games, but he hobbled off with an ankle injury and may miss Tuesday’s fixture against Israel.
Retegui doubled the lead in the 38th minute after missing a penalty earlier in the half, while Esposito secured Italy’s win two minutes before Estonia’s goal, converting Leonardo Spinazzola’s cross for his first international strike.
Italy hold a game in hand over both Israel and Norway and could effectively confirm second place in next week’s match in Udine.
However, the fixture is expected to draw limited attendance, with only 5,000 tickets sold, amid widespread protests against Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
Demonstrations earlier this month at the Italian team’s training centre in Florence called for the match to be cancelled, and Udine’s mayor, Alberto Felice De Toni, has urged postponement over safety concerns.
