Israel is endeavoring to block UEFA from expelling or suspending it from European soccer, a move that, if it went ahead, would mark one of the most dramatic moments in the country’s sporting history.
Reports suggest that a majority of the European football federation’s 20-member executive committee, the powerful body that governs the organization, may be leaning toward supporting a suspension following pressure from international bodies and calls by UN officials who have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
The spokesperson for Culture and Sport Minister Miki Zohar confirmed to The Jerusalem Post on Thursday that he has been working intensively behind the scenes in recent weeks alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the chairman of the Israel Football Association, Shino Zoertz, to block the move.
“The correct step at this stage is to act responsibly with the professional bodies and not to issue public statements, and this is how all parties involved in the efforts are proceeding,” the spokesperson said, adding that further comment will be provided in due course.
The Trump administration also confirmed to US media outlets that it is working to keep Israel from being banned. A State Department spokesperson told both The Athletic and Sky News: “We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel’s national soccer team from the World Cup.”
Comparisons with Russia
The comparison many are drawing is to Russia, which was banned from UEFA and FIFA competitions following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But Israel sees the campaign against it as a dangerous politicization of sport, fueled by international hostility, pressure campaigns, and the Palestinian Football Association, which has long sought to expel Israel from global soccer.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has reportedly faced heavy pressure to bring the matter to a vote sooner than planned. Normally, UEFA’s executive committee meets every few months in person, but in this case, reports indicate that an emergency session – possibly even an online vote – may be convened.
Unlike many other UEFA decisions, this one would be conducted anonymously because of the issue’s sensitivity. Any decision to suspend Israel could be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The pressure campaign has also extended beyond Europe. UN rapporteurs have urged both UEFA and FIFA to ban Israel, with one UN official telling Sky News that “sports cannot be business as usual” and that excluding Israel is a “red line.”
The Palestinian Football Association has repeatedly demanded Israel’s suspension, most recently in the wake of the death of Palestinian player Suleiman al-Obeid, known as the “Palestinian Pelé,” in an Israeli airstrike in August.
At the same time, Israel has found significant backing from allies, particularly the United States. With Israel currently competing in qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, American officials have pushed back against efforts to exclude the Jewish state.
For Israel, the looming vote is not just about sport but about its legitimacy in the international arena. Many Israelis view the campaign as part of a broader attempt to isolate and delegitimize the country at a time of war.
The prospect of suspension from UEFA competitions, including the Champions League, Europa League, and international qualifiers, would be a devastating blow to Israeli soccer players, clubs, and fans, who have been part of Europe’s sporting fabric since the 1980s, having been forced out of the Asian federation.
As the UEFA executive committee prepares to make its decision, the sense in Israel is one of deep concern but also determination. With legal avenues of appeal open and strong political efforts underway, the Israel Football Association and government leaders are bracing for what could become a defining moment in the intersection of sport and politics.