When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, FIFA swiftly suspended the Russian Football Association from all competitions. Palestine’s footballers have not received comparable consideration. With Gaza’s sports infrastructure in ruins and hundreds of players killed, FIFA has allowed qualifiers to proceed with Israel’s membership intact.
The Palestinian Football Association reports that 231 registered players and 65 children involved in football were killed since October 2023. The national team played home fixtures in Kuwait, Jordan, and Qatar during their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, which concluded on June 10, 2025.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino characterized the conflict as a "geopolitical issue," arguing the governing body should not make political judgments. However, critics note FIFA already made such judgments by expelling Russia and excluding South Africa during apartheid. Turkish and Spanish football officials have called for sanctions against Israel mirroring those imposed on Russia.
In February 2026, FIFA announced a $75 million partnership to reconstruct sports facilities in Gaza. The commitment arrived after the qualifying campaign ended, leading critics to label the initiative "sportswashing." Legal experts argue FIFA’s human rights statutes provide grounds for intervention, yet the organization has not engaged with these arguments publicly.