European soccer is bracing for a seismic decision as UEFA, the continent’s governing body for the sport, prepares to hold an emergency vote next week on whether to suspend Israel from all European competitions. The move comes amid mounting political and humanitarian pressure following Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has drawn sharp criticism from international organizations, human rights experts, and several national soccer federations.
The 20-member UEFA executive committee is expected to convene during the week starting September 29, 2025, with a majority reportedly leaning toward supporting the suspension. If approved, the ban would prevent Israeli national and club teams from participating in international tournaments, including the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and UEFA club competitions. This would mark a dramatic escalation in the intersection of geopolitics and sport, reminiscent of Russia’s exclusion from European football following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Israel’s men’s national team, which is scheduled to resume its World Cup qualifying campaign in just two weeks with away games against Norway and Italy, could see those matches canceled or forfeited if the suspension is enacted. The Norwegian soccer federation has already pledged to donate all profits from their October 11 match in Oslo to humanitarian relief in Gaza, underscoring the charged atmosphere surrounding these fixtures.
Calls for Israel’s exclusion have grown louder in recent weeks. Earlier this week, seven independent experts working with the United Nations Human Rights Council urged both FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel from international competitions, citing what they described as "the ongoing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territory." Their statement clarified, "We are clear that the boycott must be addressed to the State of Israel and not to individual players. We have always maintained that individuals cannot bear the consequences of the decisions their government makes. National teams representing states that commit massive human rights violations can and should be suspended, as has happened in the past."
These calls echo sentiments expressed by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who last week suggested that Israel should be banned from international sports events, drawing a direct comparison to the sanctions imposed on Russia. The growing momentum for action is further fueled by public displays of protest, such as the pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece, during a UEFA Europa League match between Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv and PAOK on September 24, 2025. Similar banners were displayed at the Super Cup game in Udine, Italy, last month, with messages reading "Stop Killing Children. Stop Killing Civilians" stretching across the pitch before the Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham teams.
Despite the mounting pressure, Israeli officials have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to stave off suspension. Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Moshe Zuares, chair of the Israel Football Association, have all been engaged in what Zohar’s office described as "intensive efforts" to block the move. "The right step now is to act responsibly with the professionals and not to make statements, and this is how all the parties involved in the efforts are acting," Zohar’s office stated. "We will address this later." Moshe Zuares, who also sits on the UEFA executive committee, is expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming discussions.
Adding to the complexity, the Israel Football Federation has publicly downplayed the immediacy of the threat. A spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "I don’t know on what sources the story is based on besides the late publications. We don’t have any indications that we are facing such an act. We are focusing on our international matches against Norway and Italy. This is, to tell the truth, much challenging."
The international ramifications extend beyond Europe. FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, is scheduled to hold a council meeting in Zurich next week, with eight of its 37 members hailing from UEFA. Whether FIFA will support a ban on Israel remains uncertain, especially given the close relationship between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump. The Trump administration has made clear its opposition to any sporting sanctions against Israel, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s department making direct interventions. According to a State Department spokesperson, the U.S. "will work to stop any efforts that tried to ban Israel’s team from the World Cup." The administration’s support is widely seen as vital to the success of the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The backdrop to this impending vote is the ongoing war in Gaza, which was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry claiming more than 64,000 deaths in the Strip—a figure that includes both civilians and combatants, though it remains unverified. Israel, for its part, asserts that it has killed over 22,000 combatants and continues to stress that it seeks to minimize civilian casualties, accusing Hamas of using civilians as human shields.
The United Nations Human Rights Council last week accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, a charge that Israel has categorically rejected as "distorted and false." Nonetheless, the international outcry has led to tangible actions in the sports world. While no UEFA member federation has yet refused to play against Israeli teams, soccer leaders in Norway and Italy have expressed unease about the situation. Reports have also surfaced that several European clubs have inquired with UEFA about the possibility of avoiding matches against Israeli opponents.
Qatar, a significant donor to UEFA and a key mediator in the Gaza conflict, is reportedly pushing for the suspension vote, particularly in the wake of an Israeli airstrike in Doha earlier this month that targeted Hamas leaders. The incident has further strained Israel’s diplomatic relations and increased the pressure on UEFA to take a stand.
The Palestinian Football Association has been advocating for Israel’s suspension from FIFA for over two years, though a formal vote has never been held. Last year, the PFA’s proposal prompted FIFA to seek independent legal counsel and launch an investigation into alleged discrimination, but ultimately, no suspension was imposed. The current push, however, appears to have gained unprecedented traction, with both FIFA and UEFA now under intense scrutiny.
As the soccer world awaits UEFA’s decision, national federations across Europe are scrambling to clarify their positions. The outcome of next week’s vote could reshape the landscape of international football, setting a precedent for how the sport addresses political and humanitarian crises. With Israel’s World Cup qualifying matches hanging in the balance and the eyes of the world watching, the stakes have rarely been higher.
For now, all sides are holding their breath, awaiting a decision that could have far-reaching consequences not only for Israeli soccer but for the future of the sport’s role in global affairs.
