Ban Would Send Historic Message
While Israel isn’t a traditional international soccer power, it has a talented squad and a diehard fan base. With next summer’s tournament being hosted by a close ally of the country, many fans were expected to make the trip to support their team if they qualified.
If UEFA and FIFA approve a ban on Israel, it would send a resounding message around the globe, expanding far outside the soccer world. It would show a powerful sign of unity with officials from the majority of countries coming together to condemn the actions taken in Gaza.
A ban wouldn’t directly affect Israel’s stance on Gaza, it could lead to an increase in public outcry from its citizens. That could put pressure on leaders to pull back on the attacks, helping to save lives and allow tensions to cool.
Ban Could Lead to Unintended Fallout
As we mentioned above, the US, which is co-hosting the World Cup, is one of Israel’s closest allies. President Trump has been supportive of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite objections from other allies.
If UEFA and FIFA impose a ban, it could lead Trump to issue threats to have it overturned. That could include restricting visas from more countries, including powerhouses like Brazil. While these actions may seem extreme, the president’s reputation makes this form of retaliation easy to envision.
Israel Qualification Far from Guranteed
The news of the proposed ban is expected to dominate headlines over the coming weeks, but it may not impact the 2026 World Cup. Israel is in Qualifying Group I and is tied for second with Italy. Both squads have nine points, but Italy owns the tiebreaker after winning a thrilling road match earlier this month.
The two sides are set to meet in Italy next month, where Israel will have to deliver a win to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Israel’s long odds of making the World Cup field may lead FIFA to reject UEFA’s ban, choosing to avoid the political blowback that would result from it.
