UEFA is likely to refrain from blocking Israel from World Cup qualifying as it considers sanctions against the country’s football association. According to plans being developed by UEFA and expected to be voted on by its executive committee this week, Israel would only be banned from competitions directly overseen by UEFA. This would mean excluding Israel’s men’s and women’s national teams from the Nations League and removing Maccabi Tel Aviv from this season’s Europa League.
The World Cup, however, is a FIFA competition, with UEFA organizing the European qualifiers in collaboration with FIFA and subject to FIFA’s approval. Taking unilateral action to remove Israel would be politically complex, and it appears this step is being avoided. Without a broader ban, UEFA would find itself in the unusual situation of hosting World Cup qualifiers for a country otherwise excluded from its own events.
If Israel were barred from UEFA competitions, attention would shift to FIFA. Last week, a U.S. State Department spokesperson stated they would “work to fully stop any effort to ban Israel’s national soccer team from the World Cup.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino has built a close relationship with Donald Trump ahead of next year’s World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting.
Norway and Italy are scheduled to play Israel in upcoming qualifiers during the international break starting next Monday. In Norway, Amnesty International has urged the football association to increase pressure on UEFA, while a 24-hour general strike took place in Italy last week to protest the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza.
When asked about the possibility of Italy boycotting their match, Gabriele Gravina, president of the Italian football federation and a UEFA executive committee member, said such a move “would only favor Israel, potentially boosting their qualification chances.” Israel is currently third in their qualifying group, level on points with second-place Italy but having played one more game; the group runner-up advances to the World Cup playoffs.
Norway is among the countries pushing for UEFA to hold an emergency executive committee meeting this week to decide on the matter. The momentum for a resolution is partly driven by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin. Any meeting would likely be held remotely and could be called at short notice.
A decision to suspend the Israel Football Association would require a simple majority vote. Insiders suggest that if proposed, the measure would likely pass with few objections from UEFA’s 19-member executive committee.
Even if a ban is imposed, UEFA would still be responsible for organizing Israel’s World Cup qualifiers, including providing match officials, security, and staff for their “home” games in Hungary.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is set to play Dinamo Zagreb in their second Europa League match on Thursday, which is expected to proceed. However, this could be Maccabi’s last game in the competition. A replacement team would be sought, with Dynamo Kyiv, who lost to Maccabi in qualifying, being the most likely option, though this would have knock-on effects.The decision will also impact the Conference League. UEFA has chosen not to comment, and FIFA has yet to respond to a request for comment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Israels potential World Cup qualification in the event of a UEFA ban with clear and direct answers
Basic Definition Questions
1 Why is there talk of UEFA banning Israel
UEFA can suspend national teams if their government is deemed to be interfering in the independent running of the countrys football association or due to extreme security concerns that make hostingplaying matches impossible
2 Has UEFA actually banned Israel
No not as of now This FAQ is based on a hypothetical what if scenario that is being discussed due to the ongoing geopolitical situation
3 What does a UEFA ban actually mean
A ban would mean the Israeli national team and all Israeli clubs are immediately removed from all UEFA competitions including the European Qualifiers for the World Cup
Qualification Process Questions
4 If banned from UEFA can Israel still play in the World Cup
Yes its a possibility They would not be automatically disqualified from the World Cup as it is a FIFA tournament not an UEFA one
5 How could Israel qualify if theyre banned from European qualifying
They would need to request a transfer to a different continental confederation and have that request approved by FIFA
6 Is switching confederations a real thing
Yes Australia famously moved from the Oceania Football Confederation to the AFC in 2006 to get more competitive matches and a clearer path to World Cup qualification
7 Would FIFA definitely allow Israel to switch to Asia
There is no guarantee It would require a vote by the FIFA Council While there is a precedent it would also be a highly political decision and other AFC members might object
8 If Israel moved to Asia would they have to start qualifying from the beginning
Most likely yes They would join the AFC qualification process for the next available World Cup cycle starting from the earliest round
Advanced Logistical Questions
9 What are the main benefits of playing in the AFC instead of UEFA
Easier Path On paper the average strength of teams in Asia is considered lower than in Europe potentially offering a more accessible route to the World Cup
