FIFA issue statement on banning Israel from World Cup
FIFA have officially responded to calls for Israel to be banned from the upcoming 2026 World Cup across North America.
Ahead of the kick off of the the 2026 World Cup in just eight months across the United States of America, Mexico and Canada, governing bodies FIFA and UEFA have been facing increased pressure to ban Israel.
Since the conflict between the European country and Palestine escalated in October 2023, both fans and senior public figures have demanded Israel be given the same treatment as Russia following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022
In recent months, demands on both FIFA and UEFA to make a decision on the ban has risen further following statements from the United Nations and Euro 2024 winners Spain, who have threatened to boycott the World Cup should Israel qualify.
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And now a senior FIFA official has spoken out to reveal his thoughts on the issue ahead of their upcoming council meeting in Zurich.
Ahead Thursday's official council meeting in Zurich, it was expected that FIFA would take the time to discuss Israel's potential ban.
However, according to a report from The Independent, the issue will not be included on the agenda for the meeting, meaning that there cannot be a vote regarding the demands.
The news comes after Amnesty International joined the voices calling for FIFA and UEFA to ban Israel ahead of the World Cup, with several other outlets suggesting that the decision is being pushed back over fears of aggravating US president Donald Trump.
It remains possible the Israel ban could still be discussed up at Thursday's Council meeting as part of the "miscellaneous" section, but that would only involve an informal discussion, and a vote could not take place.
But that hasn't stopped FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani, who is also the President of CONCACAF, from speaking out to reveal his thoughts on the calls for FIFA to consider the ban.
“First and foremost, it [Israel] is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason… They have to deal with that,” Montagliani reportedly told journalists at a sports business conference.
“And I respect not only their process but whatever decision they make.”
Recent reports have suggested that several senior figures within UEFA have been pushing for a meeting of of its executive committee to discuss a ban as early as this week.
However, any plans for such a meeting were put on hold after Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for a peace deal.
Topics: FIFA, UEFA, Donald Trump, FIFA World Cup
Ben McCrum