Israel Could Play in World Cup Despite UEFA Ban Due to 'Loophole'

Israel could be allowed to play at the 2026 World Cup even if they are banned by UEFA in a controversial move.

European football's governing body is under growing pressure to sanction Israel's FA in response to the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza.

A report released by the UN earlier this month said there are reasonable grounds to conclude that four of the five genocidal acts, as defined under international law, have been carried out by Israel since it began its military offensive against Hamas in Gaza in 2023.

The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 64,964 Palestinians, according to recent figures released by the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

There is mounting pressure for Israel to be suspended from international sport like Russia, which was banned by UEFA and world governing body FIFA following its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022.

Last week, a coalition of 50 professional athletes including Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure and former Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech signed an open letter calling on UEFA to suspend Israel.

Israel could still qualify for the 2026 World Cup (Image: Getty)

The letter argued that "sport cannot stand silent while athletes and civilians including children are indiscriminately killed en masse in Gaza".

Turkey recently became the first UEFA member to publicly call for Israel's suspension from all football competitions, and a vote among nations is expected to take place this week.

AP report that a majority of European nations would support a vote to suspend Israeli teams from international play, including both the Israel national teams and clubs.

That has raised major doubts over the current qualification process for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.

Israel is competing in qualifying Group I alongside Norway, Italy, Moldova, and Estonia. With three matches remaining, Israel sits in third place in the group - six points behind Norway and behind Italy only on goal difference.

The group winner will automatically qualify for the World Cup, with second place potentially securing a play-off place.

Norway and Italy are due to face Israel in qualifiers during the upcoming international break, which begins on Monday, and there is an expectation that a UEFA vote will be held ahead of those matches.

Israel could play at World Cup due to 'loophole'

The Guardian report that UEFA is expected to avoid attempting to block Israel from World Cup qualifying even if European nations vote for a suspension.

It's claimed that Israeli sides would be banned only from competitions that UEFA directly controls such as the Euros, Nations League, Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

However, the World Cup is a FIFA competition, for which UEFA organises the qualifying format. This is done 'in collaboration' with FIFA but only subject to the approval of world football's governing body, which has the final say on matters relating to the tournament.

Under the proposal, Israel would still be allowed to stage qualifiers for the World Cup even if unilaterally banned by UEFA - although the unusual situation is likely to increase pressure on FIFA to issue its own suspension.

Meanwhile, the United States government has said it will try to prevent any attempt to ban Israel from competing at the World Cup.

A US State Department spokesperson told BBC Sport: "We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel's national soccer team from the World Cup."

Israel are next due to play Norway in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo on October 11, before facing Italy away from home on October 14.

The US will co-host the World Cup with Canada and Mexico (Image: Getty)

What has UEFA said?

Speaking earlier this month, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said his personal opinion was that athletes should not be punished for the actions of their government.

"Look, first of all, what's happening with civilians there is personally hurting, killing me," Ceferin told Politico.

"From the other point of view, I'm not a supporter of banning the athletes.

"Because what can an athlete do to their government to stop the war? It's very, very hard. Now, the ban for Russian teams is, I think, three and a half years. Did the [Ukraine] war stop? It didn't."

Meanwhile last month, Ceferin stood alongside two Palestinian children who handed out medals at the UEFA Super Cup between PSG and Tottenham, where a banner reading "STOP KILLING CHILDREN - STOP KILLING CIVILIANS" was unfurled before the match.