President Donald Trump has pledged to protect Israel’s place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, vowing to resist any attempts to sanction or expel the Israeli national team amid mounting international pressure.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department confirmed on Thursday that Washington would intervene to block any effort aimed at banning Israel from the global football tournament. “We will certainly work to ensure that there is no attempt to ban Israel’s national football team from the World Cup,” the statement read.
The development comes as UEFA, Europe’s football governing body, faces increasing calls to suspend Israel over its military campaign in Gaza. A recent United Nations inquiry declared that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, sparking outrage across the sporting and political landscape.
According to reports, a majority of UEFA’s 20-member executive committee appears to support sanctions against Israel, with critics pointing out the disparity in treatment compared to Russia, which was swiftly banned from UEFA and FIFA competitions in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez added fuel to the debate last week, urging international football bodies to impose sanctions on Israel until the “barbarity ends.” Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub echoed this sentiment, telling Norway’s TV2 that Israel’s conduct violates FIFA’s principles and statutes and warrants immediate suspension.
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UEFA is expected to hold an emergency vote next week to deliberate on Israel’s participation in European competitions. While UEFA can bar Israel from European matches, the final decision on World Cup qualifiers rests with FIFA.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, known for his close ties with Trump, has been seen at FIFA’s offices inside Trump Tower in New York this week. Analysts suggest that Trump’s political influence and vocal support for both Israel and the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, could play a decisive role in shaping FIFA’s final stance.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Sports and Culture Minister Miki Zohar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Moshe Zuares, head of the Israeli Football Association, have launched an aggressive lobbying campaign to block sanctions and secure Israel’s World Cup participation.
As the battle intensifies, the decision by FIFA and UEFA could determine not only Israel’s sporting future but also test the intersection of politics, diplomacy, and global football governance in one of the most contentious debates ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
