The Donald Trump administration has vowed to block any attempt by FIFA or UEFA to ban Israel from participating in the 2026 World Cup.
Reports indicate that UEFA is set to vote next week on whether to suspend Israel from international football over its military actions in Gaza. However, it remains unclear if FIFA will support UEFA’s position or act independently.
A spokesperson for the US State Department told Sky News that Washington would not allow such a move to succeed.
“We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel’s national soccer team from the World Cup,” the official said.
Israel has so far played five qualifying matches for the tournament and still has a chance to qualify, despite not appearing in a major competition since 1970.
This development adds fresh political tension to the run-up of the global football tournament scheduled to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.
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