FIFA proposes – FIFA is proposing that the opening match of its inaugural under-15s festival in the United States in September feature Israel against Palestine—an idea emerging after a tense, unsuccessful attempt by FIFA president Gianni Infantino to get rival football leader
The idea was simple on paper: start FIFA’s inaugural under-15s festival with a match that puts Israel and Palestine on the same pitch. But the moment FIFA president Gianni Infantino tried to bring their football leaders together on stage less than two months earlier. the atmosphere turned visibly tense.
FIFA is proposing that the opening match of the new tournament—set to take place in the United States in September—should be Israel against Palestine. according to sources with knowledge of the plans. The festival is open to all 211 of FIFA’s member associations. including Russia. which has been banned from FIFA competitions since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The proposal follows what happened at FIFA’s annual congress on April 30. where Infantino failed to get representatives from the Israel Football Association and the Palestinian Football Association to shake hands and pose for a photo together on the stage in Vancouver. Jibril Rajoub. the president of the Palestinian Football Association. and Basim Sheikh Suliman. the Israel Football Association vice president. had separately addressed hundreds of delegates at the congress.
Infantino invited them back on stage for another attempt. It did not work. Rajoub pleaded. “We are suffering!” During a tense moment. Rajoub and Infantino were locked in an impassioned conversation while Suliman stood several feet away. Only after that exchange did Infantino pivot back to the future of the organization’s youth festival.
“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. “Let’s work together, you have my commitment, you have the support of the whole room.”
FIFA’s proposal, as it stands, is for the respective Israeli and Palestinian Under-15s to play against each other. Whether either side agrees to compete remains unclear.
The stakes around the invitation are heightened by the wider political backdrop. Israel has committed to expanding its control of Palestinian territories despite a cease-fire with Hamas, per the New York Times. In response to FIFA’s idea. the Israel Football Association framed the concept in terms of football’s ability to normalize ties.
“Our FA President. Moshe Zuares. will stick to what he said publicly several times at FIFA congress and everywhere — we are more than ever willing to use football as an instrument to promote normalization and peace. ” an Israel Football Association spokesperson told The Athletic. “Our hands are always extended for a better future for everyone. We hope to find a brave partner on the other side”.
The Palestinian Football Association did not respond to a request for comment regarding FIFA’s proposal.
Even if the match is approved, the festival itself is designed to be different from most tournaments. The new tournament was announced at the FIFA Council meeting in December. It will involve shorter matches and smaller pitches, with teams comprising between seven and nine players per side.
This year’s edition—one potential host location being Miami—will feature boys’ teams. The second instalment, in 2027, will feature girls’ teams.
Infantino had already sold the youth festival as a step toward broader access to football. “We have been very active in promoting youth competitions and development. and this is a natural next step. and a very joyous one. ” Infantino said in a statement in December. “Having FIFA U-15 festivals for boys and girls will be fundamental in FIFA’s quest to give every talent a chance all over the world and yet another example of how FIFA reinvests in the game.”.
But starting the festival with a match between Israel and Palestine would turn that “next step” into something more than sport—right at the point where diplomacy through football has already collided with the reality leaders could not set aside on April 30.
FIFA under-15 festival Israel Palestine match Gianni Infantino Jibril Rajoub Basim Sheikh Suliman Vancouver congress United States September Miami Moshe Zuares Russia FIFA ban