The Daily Star Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is preparing to hold a vote on Israel’s participation in international football during its upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM). The decision comes amid growing debate within the global football community about how governing bodies should respond to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Chief executive David Courell confirmed that the association has already raised the issue with UEFA and FIFA, calling on both federations to adopt “a strong position” on Israel’s continued involvement in competitions.
Governance Issues at Home
While the AGM is set to tackle this sensitive matter, the FAI had to cancel a planned Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). The cancellation followed criticism that Sport Ireland had not been informed in advance about proposals to increase term limits for board members. The FAI now finds itself balancing internal governance challenges with wider international responsibilities.
UEFA Holds the Key Decision
The responsibility for ruling on Israel’s status ultimately lies with UEFA, according to FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani. Speaking this week, he noted that Israel, as a member of UEFA, falls under European jurisdiction.
“First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason. They have to deal with that,” Montagliani said at the Leaders sports business conference. “And I respect not only their process but whatever decision they make.”
UEFA had been expected to hold an emergency vote on suspending Israel from competition following escalating violence in Gaza, where the death toll has surpassed 66,000 since October 2023. However, reports in British media suggest the vote has been delayed after U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a new plan aimed at ending the conflict.
Calls for Suspension and Human Rights Pressure
Human rights groups have added to the pressure. Amnesty International recently wrote to both FIFA and UEFA, urging them to suspend the Israel Football Association over alleged violations linked to the conflict. Critics argue that allowing Israel to compete undermines the principles of fair play and human rights, while supporters of Israel’s participation insist that sport should remain separate from politics.
Israel currently sits third in Group I of the World Cup qualifying campaign for the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA Council Meeting and World Cup Preparations
Montagliani confirmed that Thursday’s FIFA Council meeting in Zurich will not feature Israel’s case on its agenda. Nor will it discuss a proposal by South American confederation CONMEBOL to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams.
Attention instead remains fixed on preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which will be the largest ever, featuring 48 teams instead of 32. The expanded tournament is scheduled to run from 11 June to 18 July.
Montagliani emphasized that matches would not be moved despite President Trump suggesting last month that he might seek to relocate games away from cities he deemed unsafe. “If I have to react every time a politician makes a statement, whether it’s a president or senator or congressman, then I wouldn’t be doing my job,” the Canadian official said. “The reality is, we’re focused on the 16 venues and making sure that they’re ready to go.”
Heat, Scheduling, and Broadcaster Demands
One issue that may prompt adjustments, however, is scheduling. Montagliani admitted that kick-off times in certain cities could be altered to avoid extreme heat and humidity, a lesson learned from this year’s Club World Cup in the U.S.
“It’s always an issue in our region, because summers are hot — even in Canada they’re hot, not just the U.S.,” he said. “It’s important to learn those things.”
The full World Cup match schedule is expected to be released after the official draw on 5 December in Washington D.C.. Montagliani also noted that FIFA remains in close contact with global broadcasters, ensuring that time zones and television audiences are factored into final scheduling decisions.
