Israel’s place at next year’s World Cup is reportedly under threat amid claims Qatar is pressuring European football’s governing body to expel them from all of its events.
Israel Hayom and Channel 12 report, via The Times of Israel, that Qatar—one of UEFA’s biggest financial backers—is pushing for a vote to be held today on the national team’s place in its competitions following Israel’s strike on Doha.
Israel FA officials deny reports that a vote is to take place. UEFA’s official website states their next meeting is scheduled for December 3. However, the report states Qatar is pressing for an emergency meeting.
Israel has come under increasing international pressure to curtail its war in Gaza, waged after Hamas used the territory to launch a surprise attack on October 7th, which massacred more than 1,000 Israelis.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, raised the heat by recognizing Palestine as a state—a historic move that Israel PM Netanyahu called a ‘reward’ for Hamas terrorists.
On the pitch, Ran Ben Shimon’s side are currently deep into the qualifying campaign for next year’s World Cup, where they sit third in their group behind Italy on goal difference. They must qualify through a UEFA-run qualification process, with the Israel FA belonging to the European federation rather than Asia.
But their efforts in qualifying could be in vain, with UEFA reportedly facing pressure from Qatar to hold a vote on Israel’s place in their competitions.
