Today the FIFA Council meets, but a decision about Israel’s football association has not yet been on the agenda. One reason is to be the plan of US President Donald Trump for an end to the Gaza War.
At 11 a.m. on Thursday (02.10.2025), the FIFA Council comes together the most important decision-making committee of the World Association for a meeting in Zurich. According to information, dealing with the Israeli Football Association has so far not been an agenda item, members have to provide the topic under “Mixed”.
DFB Vice President Hans-Joachim Watzke is a member of the committee, the DFB always supported itself for Israel. At the request of the sports show, the DFB announced: “The DFB will not comment on speculation. The attitude of the DFB to the state of Israel is known.”
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf
Supposedly planned UEFA vote did not take place
Most recently, there were reports in Great Britain about an impending coordination of the UEFA Executive Committee on the future of the Israeli association in UEFA. The UEFA never confirmed the project, so far it has not been this.
FIFA Vice President Victor Montaglianmi from Canada
FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani said in several British and American media on Wednesday that the UEFA first said The possible implementation of the plan of US President Donald Trump will wait for an end to the Gazakieg. “The UEFA said that it will suspend the vote and wait for the peace plan”said Montagliani. The topic is one of the UEFA. “Israel is her member, UEFA has to deal with it, and I not only respect her process, but also every decision.”
Israel not the only topic of UEFA
However, the FIFA Vice President from Canada is incomplete. Because in the FIFA council – which meets today – the Palestinian Association has been available since May 2024. At that time he asked for Israel’s suspension by FIFA, but hardly referred to the Gaza War. The details are primarily about the accusation of illegal game operations in the Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The FIFA was therefore given the politically delicate task of drawing the borders on one of the most controversial maps on earth.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino assigned the topic to the FIFA Council. The FIFA Council commissioned a legal analysis in early October 2024. When the FIFA “Governance, Audit and Compliance Commission” of the FIFA was commissioned in October 2024, the “Governance, Audit and Compliance Commission” was commissioned. In May 2025, that commission was re-compiled at the FIFA Congress and was given time to “familiarize himself”. A decision is still open today.
The merger (Waff), in which numerous Arab countries are organized, emphasized the demand for Israel’s exclusion on Saturday and referred to the game in the Israeli settlement and a discrimination against Palestinian athletes, which was also part of the application. In addition, several human rights organizations and the UN Human Rights Council have requested an exclusion of Israel from international associations. Bahrain is the 1st Vice President of FIFA with sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are also represented in the FIFA Council.
FIFA Vice President Scheich Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa from Bahrain
So far, neither UEFA nor FIFA have imposed sanctions against Israel. For security reasons, Israel is not allowed to play home games on its own territory, the games usually take place in Hungary.
The Gaza War
On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas committed a large -scale attack on Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and numerous others were dragged into the Gaza strips. To date, around 50 hostages are dead or alive in the violence of Hamas.
Israel reacted with a military retaliation offensive to destroy the structures of Hamas. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health controlled by the Hamas, more than 67,000 people were killed. Large parts of the buildings and the infrastructure in the Gaza Strip are destroyed, the location of the civilian population is catastrophic.
A Commission of the UN Human Rights Council accuses Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Israel rejects this and finally started a soil offensive to take Gazastadt. The United States presented a plan to end the war. Among other things, he provides for the complete disarmament of Hamas, which should no longer be involved in the administration of the Gaza Strip. According to Israel, the Hamas reaction is open.
USA with pressure on FIFA against Israel sanctions
On the other hand, the United States has recently exerted pressure to prevent sanctions against Israel. The British broadcaster Sky News cited a spokesman for the US State Department with the words: “We will work with all the attempts to completely prevent all attempts to exclude the Israeli national soccer team from the World Cup.”
US President Donald Trump (left) with FIFA President Gianni Infantino
The United States is currently the most important business partner of FIFA, after the 2025 club World Cup, most of the World Cup takes place there in 2026. FIFA President Infantino often shows himself alongside US President Donald Trump. The International Olympic Committee, which was organizing the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, already rejected sanctions against Israel.