FIFA Wants Israel Vs Palestine Match To Open New 'Football Festival' Tournament

Published 15 June 2026 · sports

FIFA Wants Israel Vs Palestine Match To Open New 'Football Festival' Tournament Published By, Last Updated: June 15, 2026, 17:15 IST FIFA wants Israel vs

FIFA Wants Israel Vs Palestine Match To Open New 'Football Festival' Tournament Published By, Last Updated: June 15, 2026, 17:15 IST FIFA wants Israel vs Palestine as the opening match for its new under 15 tournament in the USA in September. Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub, right, walks away from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, center, after refusing to stand together with Israel Football Association Vice-President Basim Sheikh Suliman, left, during the 76th FIFA Congress (AP) The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) reportedly wants a match between Israel and Palestine to open its new under-15 ‘football festival’ tournament in the USA in September. The unofficial, almost-symbolic tournament will be open to all 211 FIFA members, including the otherwise banned Russia. Israel and Palestine are still amid one of the most deadly conflicts in human history. Critics and several international bodies accuse Israel of genocide, pointing to the immense civilian death toll and widespread destruction in Gaza as evidence of an intent to destroy the Palestinian population.

Conversely, Israel and its allies strongly deny this, arguing the military campaign is a lawful act of self-defense. Despite a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, Israel has stated its intention to expand its control over Palestinian territories. Reports in English media said that FIFA’s increasingly controversial president Gianni Infantino wants to use the tournament as a ‘vehicle to promote peace and global unity’. However, the last time he tried such a stunt, it backfired spectacularly, at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver. After separate addresses by Palestinian Football Association president Jibril Rajoub and Israel Football Association (IFA) vice-president Basim Sheikh Suliman, Infantino invited both men to stand together for a photograph and handshake. However, Rajoub declined, walking away from the proposed gesture and leaving the FIFA chief visibly caught off guard. The Palestinian official was seen speaking to Infantino away from the microphones before briefly embracing him and exiting the stage area.

Witnesses reported that Rajoub refused to stand alongside the Israeli representative, with the two officials maintaining their distance throughout the exchange. At one stage, Rajoub could be heard saying, ‘We are suffering,’ reflecting the deep tensions surrounding the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Palestinian FA vice-president Susan Shalabi later said Rajoub objected to what he viewed as an attempt to ‘whitewash’ Israeli actions amid the continuing war. “We have a beautiful under-15 tournament coming up, where we will invite all 211 countries to participate, all the children of the world, let’s do it for that," Infantino said on stage that day. “Let’s work together, you have my commitment, you have the support of the whole room." It is unclear whether either Israel or Palestine will send a contingent for the tournament, though The Athletic quoted an official from the IFA saying the organisation was ready ‘to use football as an instrument to promote normalization and peace’.