The United States has vowed to prevent any efforts to exclude Israel from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, amid growing international pressure for sporting sanctions following a UN genocide report.
UN Report Sparks International Calls for Action
A United Nations commission of inquiry recently concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, prompting a panel of UN experts and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to demand sporting sanctions against the country. The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
“We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel’s national soccer team from the World Cup,” a US State Department spokesperson told BBC Sport.
UEFA Under Pressure to Act
Reports suggest that UEFA, European football’s governing body responsible for World Cup qualifying matches, may convene as early as next week to consider suspending Israel from international competition.
A senior source at a European member association revealed: “Our understanding is that UEFA leadership wants to see some action on this. Nothing is confirmed or scheduled. But there is a new, high-level pressure from many nations compared to just a month ago.”
Qualifying Matches Continue Amid Controversy
Israel is scheduled to face Norway in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo on October 11, followed by a match against Italy in Udine on October 14. Both host nations have expressed concerns about the fixtures.
Norwegian football federation president Lise Klaveness stated her organization “cannot and will not be indifferent to the humanitarian suffering that is taking place in the region, especially the disproportionate attacks against civilians in Gaza.”
The UN Findings and Israel’s Response
The UN report found reasonable grounds to conclude that four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law had been committed since the conflict began in 2023. Subsequently, UN human rights experts called on FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel’s national team, declaring that “sports must reject the perception that it is business as usual.”
Israel has consistently denied genocide allegations, maintaining that its actions in Gaza constitute legitimate self-defense. The Israeli foreign ministry dismissed the UN report as “distorted and false.”
Context of the Conflict
The Israeli military campaign began following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry—figures cited by the UN as the most reliable available—at least 65,419 people have died in Gaza since the conflict escalated.
Precedent and International Comparisons
Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez argued that Israel should face the same treatment as Russia, which has been banned from international sports competitions since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. “Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image,” Sánchez declared.
Russian national teams have been excluded from international football tournaments since the invasion, while Russian and Belarusian athletes competed under neutral flags at the 2024 Olympics.
Current World Cup Qualifying Position
Israel currently sits third in their UEFA qualifying group with nine points, trailing group leaders Norway by six points. The group winner advances automatically to the World Cup, while the runner-up enters playoff competition.
Fan Protests and Security Concerns
The controversy has sparked protests at sporting events across Europe. During a recent Europa League match between Greek side PAOK and Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv in Thessaloniki, supporters displayed Palestinian flags and banners reading “Stop the genocide” and “Show Israel the red card.”
Prior to the match, demonstrators submitted over 1,900 signatures to UEFA supporting a petition that declared there could be “no fair play with representatives of genocide.”
The match was classified as high-risk due to the ongoing tensions, with PAOK warning supporters that political displays could result in heavy sanctions.
Official Responses
When contacted by BBC Sport, the Israeli Football Association declined to comment. FIFA has been approached for comment but has not yet responded.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry recently sidestepped questions about sanctioning Israeli athletes, stating: “The sports movement has to showcase the good that is in humanity.”
The situation continues to develop as the international football community grapples with balancing sporting participation and political considerations.
