In brief
The US government has announced its intention to oppose any efforts to ban Israel from the upcoming 2026 World Cup after a UN report accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians. This comes as various international bodies and nations, including Spain and Norway, consider sporting sanctions on Israel. UEFA is reportedly under pressure to decide on the suspension, with calls growing for Israel to be treated similarly to Russia regarding international sporting competitions. Protests and displays highlighting the ongoing situation in Gaza continue to emerge in sporting events.
The United States government will try to prevent any attempt to ban Israel from competing at the 2026 World Cup.A United Nations commission of inquiry said earlier this month that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, leading a panel of UN experts and the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call for sporting sanctions against the country.Next year's World Cup is being co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada. A US State Department spokesperson told BBC Sport: We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel's national soccer team from the World Cup.Meanwhile, UEFA, which organizes World Cup qualifying matches, may meet to decide whether to suspend Israel as pressure rises from numerous nations.A senior source indicated a significant shift in attitudes compared to previous months. Israel is set to play Norway in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo on October 11, and Norwegian football federation president Lise Klaveness acknowledged the challenges posed by Israel's participation, given the humanitarian crises in Gaza.The UN reported that reasonable grounds exist to claim genocidal acts have occurred since the conflict intensified. In hitting back, Israel consistently denies accusations and insists its military actions are in self-defense against Hamas.The UN has pointed out the grievous human cost of the ongoing conflict, with high casualty figures coming from Gaza since the start of hostilities.Resistance against Israel's participation in international sports has surged, especially following the UN's findings, as discussions on possible sanctions evolve in both FIFA and UEFA.Sanchez has drawn parallels between Israel and Russia's suspension from international sports, suggesting that Israel's actions should be treated similarly given ongoing humanitarian implications. This controversial topic continues to polarize public opinion, reflected in recent demonstrations at sporting events across Europe.
