United States President Donald Trump has indicated he may intervene should FIFA consider banning Israel from next summer’s World Cup, which is set to be hosted across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
The development follows a United Nations appeal this week urging international sporting bodies to suspend Israeli teams over the war in Gaza, accusing Israel of committing genocide — allegations the country has strongly rejected.
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According to Sky News, a spokesperson for Senator Marco Rubio’s office told the Daily Mail: “We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel’s national soccer team from the World Cup.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has not yet responded directly to the UN call. Speaking in New York, he acknowledged the difficulty of imposing sanctions on countries engaged in conflicts but expressed empathy for civilians affected: “I suffer when I see children suffer. I cry when I see mothers crying, whether it’s in Gaza… anywhere in the world.”
FIFA does have precedent for such actions, having barred Russia from international football over its war in Ukraine.
Israel remains in contention for the 2026 World Cup, currently tied on points with Italy in Group C. They are scheduled to face Norway on October 11 and Italy three days later. The group winner qualifies automatically, while the runner-up enters a playoff.
Pressure is also mounting from within Europe. Norway’s football federation has pledged to donate profits from its qualifier against Israel to humanitarian aid in Gaza. Federation president Lise Klaveness stated: “Neither we nor other organisations can remain indifferent to the humanitarian suffering and disproportionate attacks that the civilian population in Gaza has been subjected to for a long time.”
