Overview

• Sources told The Times that a majority of UEFA executive committee members favor suspending Israel, with a decision expected next week.
• The U.S. State Department said it will work to stop any effort to bar Israel from the 2026 World Cup, heightening political pressure on FIFA.
• FIFA has not announced a decision and is continuing two investigations opened in 2024 into complaints against the Israel Football Association and clubs in settlements.
• Recent matches have seen protests and safety concerns, including PAOK fans targeting Maccabi Tel Aviv in Greece, as some European teams question playing Israeli opponents.
• A UEFA suspension would likely derail Israel’s route through European qualifying for 2026 and intensify comparisons with Russia’s 2022 ban, even as UEFA’s president has voiced caution over team-wide sanctions.