FIFA avoid Israel ban from international competitions

Israel will face no action from football’s governing body FIFA, following a request from the Palestinian Football Federation to prohibit them from taking part in international competitions. However after FIFA met in Switzerland on Thursday, there was no action against Israel.

There had been talk that FIFA could take action after requests for a ban from multiple national federations, but as reported earlier this week, FIFA have declined to take any action as a result of the military invasion in Gaza.

Gianni Infantino wants Palestine and Israel to unite over football

FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino began his address to the summit with an appeal to focus utilising football as a tool to achieve peace and unity around the world. “At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to unite people in a divided world,” Infantino explained as quoted by Cadena Cope.

“Our thoughts are with those suffering in the many conflicts around the world today. FIFA cannot solve geopolitical problems, but it can and must promote football worldwide by leveraging its unifying, educational, cultural, and humanitarian values.”

“FIFA will continue to invite all stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue to protect players, find the right balance between club and national team football globally, and improve football for the future.”

Cope go on to say that their stance has been influenced by Infantino’s close relationship with US President Donald Trump, who is Israel’s biggest international ally. FIFA of course banned Russia from international competition after their invasion of Ukraine, but the matter did not even go to a vote.

Palestine will take part in two friendlies next month with the Basque Country and Catalonia, ‘in homage to the victims of a genocide’.

Iranian delegation vetoed from entry to USA

Later this year the draw will take place in the USA for the 2026 World Cup, but the Iranian Football Federation will not be there. A spokesperson for the Asian giants spoke to newspaper Shargh, as quoted again by Cope, explained that they have been denied entry to the USA.

Iran is one of the countries vetoed from travel to the US by Trump, who has shown no sign of loosening that law for the World Cup. President Mehdi Taj intends to lobby Infantino and by proxy Trump in order to allow them to attend the draw. Their hope is that FIFA will schedule their games in Canada and Mexico to avoid any issues with travel bans.