US vows to fight any move to ban Israel from 2026 World Cup

WASHINGTON — The United States government said it will actively oppose any bid to ban Israel from competing at the 2026 World Cup, as a United Nations commission of inquiry concluded there are reasonable grounds to find genocide in Gaza. The findings have prompted calls from UN experts and Spain's prime minister for sporting sanctions against Israel, and they have sharpened talk among European officials that UEFA could vote on suspending Israel as soon as next week. The 2026 World Cup is to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, making the tournament a test case for how sport responds to a geopolitical crisis of this scale.

In a statement, a U.S. State Department spokesperson told BBC Sport that Washington would work to block any effort to bar Israel from the World Cup. The remarks came as reports circulated that UEFA leadership wants action on suspending Israel, although there was no confirmation of a meeting schedule. UEFA has said no meeting is currently planned.

The UN commission of inquiry said there were reasonable grounds to conclude that four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law had been carried out since the start of the 2023 war in Gaza. In response, a panel of UN human rights experts urged FIFA and its European body UEFA to suspend Israel from international competition, saying that sports must reject the perception that it is business as usual. Israel has repeatedly denied that its actions amount to genocide, saying they are a legitimate self-defense measure.

The Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, joined the call for sanctions, arguing that Israel should be treated the same as Russia by being barred from international sports competitions where appropriate. Sánchez cited Russia's ban following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine as a precedent, while also noting the broader political dynamics around Israel's participation in global sports. The International Olympic Committee has similarly moved to bar Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing under their national flags in recent events, signaling a trend toward punishment in sport where geopolitics intersect.

FIFA has not commented publicly on the possibility of suspending Israel, and no official decision has been announced. The United States has indicated it will oppose such moves at the World Cup, warning that attempts to exclude Israel would violate principles of open competition. The United States also pointed out that the World Cup group stage in UEFA qualifying remains highly competitive, with Israel currently sitting third in their group behind leaders Norway, and the qualification format allowing the top team to advance automatically while runners-up enter playoffs.

The development comes amid a broader climate of protests and political pressure around football fixtures in Europe. In Thessaloniki, supporters of Greek club PAOK displayed Palestinian flags and banners during their Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, signaling the political sensitivities surrounding Israel’s participation. Signs reading "Stop the genocide" and "Show Israel the red card" were held by fans, and chants of "Free Palestine" were heard after PAOK supporters unfurled an Israeli flag in a show of protest that underscored the potential for sports events to become focal points for international grievances. Pro-Palestinian protests have intensified discussions about sanctions and safety measures at high-profile matches amid ongoing violence in Gaza and international debate over accountability.

PAOK had been warned that political content could carry sanctions for the club, illustrating the tension between freedom of expression at sporting events and rules designed to preserve the integrity of competition. The match in question was designated high risk because of the broader geopolitical climate surrounding Israel and Gaza. Maccabi Tel Aviv, for its part, will face Aston Villa in the Europa League at Villa Park on November 6, a game positioned within a tournament that has increasingly become entangled with political signaling and diplomacy beyond the pitch.

The broader international sports landscape has seen parallel actions and debate in recent months. The IOC has barred Russian and Belarusian athletes from events under national flags, while debates continue about whether other sports bodies should impose similar sanctions against Israel. In the United States and elsewhere, officials say the goal is to prevent any move that would exclude Israel from competition on the basis of political disagreements, arguing that sport should not be a tool for political punishment in this context.

Israel’s government has rejected genocide accusations and reiterated that its actions are aimed at countering threats and safeguarding its citizens. Foreign ministry statements have described UN findings as distorted and false, and they call for a measured, rules-based response from the international sports community. FIFA, UEFA and other governing bodies have faced calls from politicians and fans alike to take a firm stance on Israel’s participation, even as organizers emphasize the need to maintain the integrity of competition and the safety of players and spectators.

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, organizers, national federations and governments are navigating a delicate balance: upholding the right to participate in global sports while addressing international concerns about human rights and accountability. The outcome of ongoing discussions and any potential sanctions would have implications beyond a single tournament, potentially shaping how sporting events respond to geopolitical crises in the years ahead.