UEFA set to exclude Israel from Champions League, decision expected soon | OneFootball

An exclusive report by The Times is shaking the world of European football: UEFA will already discuss next week the possible suspension of Israel from its competitions. The decision to open the debate comes after the United Nations took a stand, having in recent days accused Israel of genocide in Gaza and called on major international sports organizations, including FIFA and UEFA, to take concrete measures.

The Times reveals: decisive meeting as early as next week

The issue is divisive but is finding growing support within European federations. According to the British newspaper, many executive members are pushing to follow the same path taken with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. A possible exclusion of Israel from continental cups and European qualifiers would have immediate consequences not only on a sporting level, but also politically.

If UEFA gives the green light, the pressure would inevitably shift to FIFA, which would then have to decide on Israel’s fate regarding the 2026 World Cup. Such a decision would not be without obstacles: President Gianni Infantino maintains close ties with Donald Trump, who is openly opposed to such a drastic measure against Tel Aviv, just months before a World Cup that will be hosted in the United States along with Mexico and Canada.

The Israeli national team, meanwhile, remains in the running in the European qualifiers: it currently occupies third place in the group that also includes Italy, behind Norway and Gattuso’s Azzurri. Should exclusion occur, Israel would automatically be out of the running for Qatar 2026, thus reducing the scope of the final decision that FIFA will have to make.

Andrea Alati

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.