Infantino, 55, reiterated that Fifa's role is to use the influence of football to unite people in difficult times. He said that while thoughts are with those suffering in conflicts around the world, the strongest message the sport can send is one of peace and unity. According to him, Fifa cannot resolve geopolitical disputes but has a responsibility to promote the game globally by emphasizing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.
Israel's national team is currently competing in the European qualifiers for the 2026 men's World Cup, while Maccabi Tel Aviv are active in the Europa League. Amnesty International has called on Fifa and Uefa to suspend the Israeli Football Association from their competitions in response to the UN findings. Fifa vice-president Victor Montagliani said on Wednesday that the matter should be handled by Uefa, since Israel is one of its members, drawing a comparison to how he manages issues within his own region.
Israel currently sits third in its qualifying group, six points behind leaders Norway. Under Uefa's qualifying structure, the group winners advance directly to the World Cup, while runners-up proceed to the play-offs. The 2026 tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The US government has signaled opposition to any attempt to block Israel's participation.
