European soccer body UEFA is moving toward a vote to suspend its member federation Israel over the war in Gaza, people familiar with the proposal told The Associated Press on Thursday.
A majority of UEFA’s 20-member executive committee is expected to support any vote in favor of suspending Israeli teams from international play, two sources told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.
The move comes two weeks before the Israel men’s team is due to resume its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with away games against Norway and Italy.
According to Israeli press, Israel was spared expulsion from UEFA thanks to pressure by US diplomats on the organization that the US itself is not a member of.
There is no universe in which this qualifies as America First.https://t.co/phb42VDxyZ
— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) September 24, 2025
It is unclear whether world soccer body FIFA will support excluding Israel given the close relations between FIFA’s leader, Gianni Infantino, and President Donald Trump. His administration’s support to secure the World Cup is seen as key to FIFA delivering a successful tournament in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
FIFA’s ruling council is scheduled to meet in Zurich next week.
US Pressure
UEFA had been expected to discuss the possible exclusion of Israel under pressure from Qatar. However, that move was postponed after strong diplomatic intervention.
According to political analyst Trita Parsi, who posted on X, the United States — although not a UEFA member — played a direct role in lobbying European officials to prevent the suspension from being added to UEFA’s official agenda.
As a result, Israeli clubs will continue to participate in continental tournaments, as Maccabi Tel Aviv is scheduled to play its Europa League match against the Greek team PAOK Thessaloniki as scheduled.
Reports said that a series of behind-the-scenes talks involving diplomats, football officials, and influential sports figures in Europe helped reach this temporary compromise.
Meanwhile, a group of advisers at the UN Human Rights Council has called for Israel to be excluded from both UEFA and FIFA. However, the council does not hold any formal authority over international football bodies.
Israel, Culture and Sports Minister
Amid reports that UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, will vote next week in favor of suspending Israel, Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar says he is working with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the chair of the Israel Football Association, Moshe Zuares, to prevent the move.
He cautions, however, that the “correct step” ahead of the expected vote is to “act responsibly toward the professional bodies and not make statements” before any decision has been made.
The Times newspaper reports that those in favor of suspending Israel from the body have cited the ban imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 as reason to support the move.
