The United States government has pledged to block any effort to ban Israel from participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, amid growing international pressure following a United Nations report accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Calls for Israel’s suspension from international football have intensified after a UN commission concluded earlier this month that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe Israel had carried out four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law since the Gaza conflict began in 2023.
The U.S. State Department, responding to the controversy, 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.”
The 2026 tournament is set to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Rising Pressure on Football Authorities
The UN report has prompted a panel of human rights experts, along with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to call for international sporting sanctions against Israel.
There are growing indications that UEFA, European football’s governing body, may consider action. Sources told BBC Sport that UEFA leadership is under “new, high-level pressure” from multiple member nations and could meet as early as next week to discuss Israel’s status.
One senior official from a European football association said:
“Our understanding is that UEFA leadership wants to see some action on this. Nothing is confirmed or scheduled, but the tone has shifted significantly from just a month ago.”
Israel is due to play World Cup qualifiers against Norway in Oslo on 11 October and against Italy in Udine on 14 October.
Earlier this month, Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness acknowledged the difficult position her organisation faces:
“We have to deal with Israel participating in our competitions, but cannot and will not be indifferent to the humanitarian suffering in the region, especially the disproportionate attacks against civilians in Gaza.”
Italy’s football federation has also raised concerns ahead of their upcoming match against Israel.
UN and Global Response
The UN report has intensified scrutiny of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, launched in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken.
Since then, over 65,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. These figures, while disputed by Israel, are widely cited by the United Nations and other international bodies as the most reliable casualty estimates.
Israel has rejected the genocide allegations, calling the UN’s findings “distorted and false.” It maintains its actions in Gaza are acts of self-defence.
