Football and Fragility: FIFA Calls for Peace, Sidesteps Israeli Suspension

FIFA President Gianni Infantino urged soccer's global community to prioritize peace and unity on Thursday, sidestepping mounting pressure to suspend Israeli teams from international competitions amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Speaking to FIFA's 37-member ruling council in Zurich, Infantino emphasized the sport's humanitarian potential without directly addressing Israel's status, as the body convened ahead of 2026 World Cup qualifiers resuming next week. The meeting, which kept Israel off its formal agenda, highlighted soccer's entanglement in geopolitical tensions, with European federations pushing for action while FIFA maintains a neutral stance on political resolutions.

Infantino's remarks came during a period of heightened scrutiny, as calls to bar Israeli clubs and national teams from UEFA and FIFA events have intensified over the two-year Gaza war. "FIFA cannot solve geopolitical problems," Infantino stated in a FIFA news release, "but it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values." He stressed to council members "the importance of promoting peace and unity, particularly in the context of the ongoing situation in Gaza." No vote or formal decision on Israel was taken, and FIFA opted against a news conference, leaving Infantino unavailable for further comment. The Israel men's national team is scheduled to proceed with World Cup qualifiers against Norway in Oslo on October 11 and Italy in Udine on October 14.

The push against Israel gained traction among European soccer leaders, with Norway's federation among those urging UEFA's executive committee to vote on a suspension ahead of the FIFA gathering. Turkey's soccer body issued a direct call for UEFA and FIFA to act, and sources familiar with UEFA discussions told The Associated Press that a 20-member panel vote would likely pass, despite opposition from Israel and Germany. However, FIFA—under Infantino, who has cultivated ties with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—appears unlikely to align with any UEFA move. Last week, the U.S. State Department affirmed its efforts to safeguard Israel's standing in international soccer, further diminishing prospects for punitive measures.

Also Read: India Push For Dominance Against West Indies on 1st Test Day 2

Adding layers to the diplomacy, a White House peace proposal unveiled Monday by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was swiftly endorsed by Middle Eastern governments, including Qatar—a staunch Palestinian supporter with deep UEFA connections. Qatar's prime minister received a telephonic apology from Netanyahu for a September 9 strike on Doha targeting Hamas figures. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and Qatar's Nasser al-Khelaifi, who leads the European Club Association and owns Paris Saint-Germain, attended the FIFA meeting, underscoring Qatar's sports influence.

Separately, Infantino met privately with Palestinian Soccer Federation head Jibril Rajoub at FIFA headquarters, praising the group's "resilience at this time" in an Instagram post about Middle East discussions. Rajoub had met International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry in Lausanne the previous day. No updates emerged on FIFA's two ongoing probes—into alleged discrimination by Israel's federation and the involvement of Israeli teams in Palestinian territories—initiated last year at Rajoub's request, with no resolution timeline provided.

Also Read: India Dominate West Indies on Day 1 as Rain Delays Test in Ahmedabad