UEFA set to vote to suspend Israel over war in Gaza
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is poised to vote next week on suspending Israel’s football federation from international competitions amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, sources familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The expected decision by a majority of UEFA’s 20-member executive committee would bar both Israeli national and club teams from participating in UEFA competitions and affect their involvement in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
The proposed suspension comes as Israel’s men’s team prepares to resume its World Cup qualifying campaign with away fixtures against Norway and Italy in two weeks. UEFA’s move follows mounting international pressure to exclude Israel from sporting events due to accusations of human rights violations in Gaza, including a recent United Nations investigative panel report labeling Israeli military actions as genocide. Israeli officials, including the Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have reportedly engaged in intense behind-the-scenes efforts to prevent the suspension.
The potential UEFA suspension places FIFA in a complex position ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has been instrumental in securing the World Cup hosting rights and facilitating visas for players and fans, add a geopolitical dimension to the decision. The U.S. State Department has publicly committed to opposing any efforts to block Israel’s participation in the tournament. FIFA’s ruling council, including eight UEFA representatives, is scheduled to meet in Zurich next week, where the issue may be discussed further.
This anticipated suspension marks a rare and significant intervention by a continental football governing body against a member nation on the grounds of state conduct rather than sporting reasons. For UEFA, the vote reflects a broader strategy of addressing political and humanitarian concerns through sport, reinforcing precedents set by the suspension of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. For Israel, the impact extends beyond football, with exclusion from international tournaments symbolizing a severe penalty amid escalating global criticism of its Gaza campaign. The decision will likely reverberate through football governance, emphasizing the increasing intersection of sport, politics, and international human rights.