FIFA rules on Israel’s participation in international competitions

The International Football Federation has rejected a proposal to suspend Israel from international tournaments, stating that the organization “does not deal with geopolitical issues.” The decision was confirmed during a meeting held in Zurich.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized that the federation’s mission is to promote peace and unity among people through football.

As a result, the Israeli men’s national team will retain its right to compete in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where they are scheduled to face Norway on October 11 and Italy on October 14.

For comparison, in 2022, FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia from all international competitions just five days after the start of military operations in Ukraine.

Published by Patrick Jane
04.10.2025