FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said world football’s governing body cannot “solve geographical problems” following renewed calls for Israel to be banned from international competition.
Infantino, speaking after a meeting of FIFA’s ruling council on Thursday, stressed that the organisation’s role was to promote peace and unity through football.
“FIFA cannot solve geopolitical problems but it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values,” he said.
Israel’s place in global football has been debated during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The latest push to exclude its teams from competitions by some European leaders was paused after a peace proposal tabled earlier this week by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel are due to face Norway in Oslo on 11 October before playing Italy in Udine three days later as qualifying for the 2026 World Cup resumes.
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