Israel could soon be suspended from international football, putting its spot in the 2026 World Cup at risk.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, is reportedly considering a vote on whether to ban Israel from all competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, due to its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
Pressure has been mounting from both inside and outside the sports world.
A recent report by the United Nations accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, an allegation Israel strongly denies.
A spokesperson for Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the report “fake” and said it “relies entirely on Hamas falsehoods.”
Following the report, a group of U.N. advisers urged FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel.
“National teams representing states that commit massive human rights violations can, and should, be suspended,” they said in a joint statement.
A campaign group called Game Over Israel even put up a large billboard in New York’s Times Square calling on federations to boycott Israel.
What’s at Stake
Israel’s men’s national team is currently third in its qualifying group and is set to play Norway and Italy in October.
A UEFA suspension would block Israel from participating in those matches.
Since UEFA organizes the European qualifying rounds, a suspension there would effectively eliminate Israel from the 2026 tournament.
UEFA has already banned Israeli teams from hosting home matches since October 2024 due to security concerns.
All games have been held in neutral venues like Hungary, Cyprus, and Poland.
Political Pushback
The United States, which is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, has taken a firm stance against any ban.
“We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel’s national soccer team from the World Cup,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson told Newsweek.
Gabriele Gravina, president of the Italian Football Federation and member of UEFA’s executive committee, said he denounced the suffering in Gaza but warned that a boycott could end up helping Israel.
“It would only favour Israel, who could in theory be boosted in their qualifying path to the tournament,” he said.
What UEFA and FIFA Are Doing
Reports suggest UEFA could vote on the matter as early as the first week of October, though the governing body says its next executive committee meeting is officially scheduled for Dec. 3.
Insiders say the pressure on UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin is growing.
A decision would require a simple majority from UEFA’s 19-member executive committee.
Sources familiar with the matter say the proposal would likely pass, even with a few abstentions or votes against.
FIFA, which runs the World Cup itself, has not pushed for Israel’s suspension but is reportedly reviewing allegations that Israeli teams have played in illegal settlements in the West Bank.
That review was requested by the Palestinian Football Association in 2024.
Jibril Rajoub, president of the PFA, told TV2 in Norway: “I believe that Israelis should not be allowed to participate in any matches, whether they are UEFA- or FIFA-regulated. Israel has violated principles, values, and FIFA’s statutes. Therefore, I believe that Israel should be sanctioned.”
Broader Impact
This controversy has extended beyond football.
Canadian sponsor Premier Tech is now pushing for a name change of the Israel–Premier Tech cycling team, after the team faced protests during the Vuelta a España.
With World Cup qualifiers approaching and political tensions rising, UEFA’s decision, and FIFA’s response, could shape not only Israel’s future in football but also how politics and sports collide ahead of one of the world’s biggest tournaments.