When Israel takes the pitch against Norway on 11 October for their 2026 World Cup qualifier, the most important question will not be who wins, but whether Israel should be allowed to play at all.
Fifa, the world’s governing body for football, positions itself as a human-rights advocate. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Fifa moved with lightning speed, banning Russia from all competitions four days later. In a joint statement with Uefa, Europe’s football governing body, they asserted, “Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine.” And yet, little solidarity has been afforded Palestinians. When it comes to Israel, Fifa and Uefa have foot-dragged.
