FIFA Responds to Calls for Israel Ban: ‘We Cannot Solve Geopolitical Problems’
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has insisted that the world football governing body cannot “solve geographical problems” following calls to ban Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Speaking after a meeting of FIFA’s ruling council on Thursday, Infantino stressed that the organization’s focus remains on promoting peace, unity, and the global values of football rather than becoming entangled in political disputes.
The council meeting, which did not include Israel formally on its agenda, comes ahead of the resumption of 2026 World Cup qualifiers next week. Israel is scheduled to face Norway in Oslo on October 11 and Italy in Udine on October 14.
The push by some European soccer leaders to take action against Israeli teams has quieted in recent days, particularly after a peace proposal announced on Monday at the White House by U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“FIFA cannot solve geopolitical problems but it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values,” Infantino emphasized.
Opinion
FIFA’s stance is not surprising — football, for all its global influence, has always wrestled with the tension between sport and politics. Infantino’s words highlight an age-old truth: the pitch cannot replace the negotiating table. Yet, critics will argue that neutrality can sometimes look like silence in the face of suffering.
What’s clear is that FIFA wants to remain the referee of the game, not the arbiter of global conflicts. While that approach shields the sport from political paralysis, it also raises the question: Should football ever be completely separated from politics, especially when human lives are at stake?
As Israel prepares to continue its World Cup qualifying journey, the spotlight will not only be on the players’ performance but also on the broader debate about whether football should simply entertain — or occasionally take a stand. ⚽🌍
