The United States government has pledged to “absolutely work to fully stop” any attempt to ban Israel from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the US is co-hosting.
This strong commitment comes as international pressure for sporting sanctions mounts, following a United Nations commission report that found Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
A panel of UN experts and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have publicly called for Israel’s suspension from international football.
The call for action is fueled by the UN finding of “reasonable grounds to conclude” that genocidal acts have been carried out since the start of the war in 2023.
This has led to reports that UEFA, European football’s governing body, may meet as early as next week to consider suspending Israel, a move reflecting “new, high-level pressure from many nations.”
Israel has repeatedly denied the genocide claims, calling the UN report “distorted and false,” and insisting its actions are necessary for self-defense. The Israeli military campaign, launched in response to the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, has resulted in at least 65,419 deaths in Gaza.
The controversy has also spilled onto the field, with supporters of Greek side PAOK displaying banners reading “Stop the genocide” during their recent match against Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv.
