The president of the International Football Organization assured that Israel will continue in international competitions and stressed that sport must promote peace and unity.
The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantinoconfirmed that Israel will continue to compete in the qualifiers towards the 2026 World Cup. The decision comes in the midst of the federations pressure as Spain, Norway and Türkiyebut with the explicit support of United States and Qatar.
The head of the agency said Thursday in Zurich that “It will not suspend Israel” of international competitions, despite the claims for the impact of the war in Gaza. Infantino remarked that the entity’s mission is “Promote peace and unity”avoiding intervening in political matters.
The controversy arises days after the Israeli team dispute key classification matches: On October 11 against Norway in Oslo and 14 against Italy in Udine. As it transpired, a vote in UEFA could have prospered, but FIFA remained on the sidelines.
Selection Israel
“Soccer cannot solve geopolitical problems, but take advantage of its unifying values”, Said Infantino in a statement. The position was backed by Aleksander Ceferin and by Nasser al-KhelaifiKey figure of the political-sports framework of Qatar.
In parallel, the president of the Palestine Football Federation, Jibril Rajoubhe held meetings in Switzerland to reinforce his claim. However, FIFA position reflects the decision of shield Israel At the international level, in line with the interests of United States and Qatar.
The absence of a formal debate showed once again that sport and geopolitics are deeply intertwined: while FIFA insists on presenting as a promoter of the unit, their decisions respond to Global power balances far beyond sports.
Spain threatens to get off the 2026 World Cup if Israel participates
The Selection of Spaincurrent champion of Europe and FIFA ranking leader, It is located in the center of a conflict over the country’s political pressures that could alter the classification to the World Cup 2026.
He Spanish government Evaluates withdrawing the national team of your country from the World Cup of the FIFA In the event that Israel maintains its participation, which would open the door to a historical fact: the classification of Georgia still World for the first time in its history.
Source: Ambito
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