Israel Could Face World Cup Expulsion Amid Reported Qatar Pressure on UEFA
Reports say Qatar is pressing UEFA to hold an emergency vote on Israel's participation; Israel FA denies plans for a vote as December 3 UEFA meeting looms.
Israel’s national team could be expelled from the World Cup and other UEFA competitions amid claims that Qatar is pressuring European football’s governing body to decide Israel’s continued participation, according to Israeli media citing The Times of Israel.
Israel Hayom and Channel 12, via The Times of Israel, reported that Qatar — a major backer of UEFA through sponsorships — has urged an emergency vote on Israel’s place in UEFA competitions following Israel’s strike in Doha earlier this month. Israel FA officials denied that a vote is planned to take place today, and UEFA’s next scheduled meeting is on December 3. Still, the reports describe an effort to convene an emergency session in the near term.
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The backdrop to the football dispute is broader geopolitical pressure surrounding the Gaza war. Israel has faced international calls to curb its military actions in Gaza after Hamas’s October 7 attack, which killed more than 1,000 Israelis. In this climate, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron took steps to recognise a Palestinian state, a move Netanyahu’s government derided as a reward for Hamas. The recognition has framed the political environment in which football federations are operating, though it is not clear how directly it would affect UEFA’s voting on Israel’s eligibility.
On the pitch, Ran Ben Shimon’s Israel side is deep into the World Cup qualifying campaign and sits third in its group behind Italy on goal difference. Israel’s governing body competes under UEFA rather than the Asian confederation, which means its path to next year’s finals in Qatar runs through European qualifiers. A vote to exclude Israel would upend that path, potentially depriving the team of a chance to qualify through the standard UEFA process, depending on how the talks resolve.
UEFA’s sponsorship ties with Qatar Airways—and the broader relationship between the two organizations—have been a point of controversy in recent years. The airline’s £436 million sponsorship deal with UEFA was signed last year, underscoring the close ties between the confederation, the Qatar-backed state, and football’s global governance.
Officials in Israel have been described as mobilising supporters across sports and diplomacy to block any vote that would remove Israel from UEFA’s competitions. It has also been reported that Germany and Hungary would oppose holding such a vote, though the specifics of who is advocating or resisting are not confirmed in an official statement.
UEFA, FIFA, and the FAs of England, Israel, and Qatar have been contacted for comment as this story develops. The timing remains uncertain, with the next formal UEFA gathering scheduled for December 3, when such a vote would presumably be considered if discussions move forward.
The broader geopolitical news around Palestine—such as leaders in the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Australia taking steps toward recognizing a Palestinian state—has intensified international scrutiny of the region. While those political moves are not football decisions, they contribute to the environment in which sports federations operate as they weigh issues of eligibility, sanctions, and the role of sport in diplomacy.
As the situation unfolds, Israel’s football authorities are focusing on the immediate objective of qualification, while supporters and some former players have called for broader sanctions or suspensions in football circles, arguing that sport should reflect broader political realities. Critics meanwhile warn against conflating political disputes with the governance of international sport and stress that decisions about participation should follow established rules and procedures rather than external pressure.
With a decision potentially looming, the Israel Football Association has indicated it is prepared for a range of outcomes, pending formal discussions at UEFA. The world will be watching not only for a possible vote but for the official statements that would accompany any decision, and for how such a move might affect the schedule and results of Israel’s remaining World Cup qualifiers.