FIFA plan new tournament with Palestine-Israel opener proposed as Russia open to taking part

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is pushing for the organisation to stage a tournament featuring an opening match between Israel and Palestine, while Russia will also be free to take part.

Infantino is reportedly “attempting to play peacemaker” by inviting all 211 FIFA member associations to participate in a new Under-15 tournament set to take place in the United States in September.

The Italian wants Israel and Palestine to face each other in the opening match despite the recent war between the two countries.

In April, during the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, the FIFA chief attempted to get Palestinian Football Association president Jibril Rajoub and Israel FA vice-president Basim Sheikh Suliman to shake hands, but both declined.

Speaking to Reuters shortly afterwards, Palestinian FA vice-president Susan Shalabi said: “I cannot shake the hand of someone the Israelis have brought to whitewash their fascism and genocide. We are suffering.”

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Despite the awkward moment, this has not stopped Infantino from once again attempting to use football as a symbol of peace, with the FIFA chief referencing the tournament when questioned about the Israeli and Palestinian delegates refusing to shake hands.

“Let me thank the two representatives from Israel and from Palestine, who have the same rights, duties and obligations, who are members of Fifa,” Infantino said. “We will work together, let’s work together to give hope to the children, let’s work together for that.

“We have a beautiful under-15 tournament coming up, where we will invite all 211 countries to participate, all the children of the world, let’s do it for that. Let’s work together. You have my commitment, you have the support of the whole room.”

FIFA statement on controversial tournament

FIFA first announced the ‘festival-style’ tournament in December 2025, with the organisation saying that boys’ teams will take part in the inaugural edition before girls’ teams are included the following year.

A FIFA statement read: “The first edition will be contested by boys’ teams and take place in 2026. The second instalment, in 2027, will feature girls’ teams.

“Building on this momentum, from 2028 onwards, all Member Associations will be invited to participate with both their boys’ and girls’ U-15 teams in two separate competitions. To align with the development needs of U-15 players, the matches will be shorter in duration and will be played on smaller pitches, while teams will comprise between seven and nine players per side.”

The tournament is expected to take place in Miami, where FIFA has several offices.

Russia will also be free to compete despite the senior national team being banned from FIFA-sanctioned competitions since 2022 following the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking in February, Infantino claimed that banning Russia has “achieved nothing”.

He told Sky Sports: “We have to [look at readmitting Russia]. Definitely. This ban has achieved nothing; it has only created more frustration and hatred. Allowing boys and girls from Russia to play football in other parts of Europe could help,” he said.

“It’s something we have to do, definitely, at least in the youth categories.”

Russia remain banned despite Infantino's comments.