- September 20, 2025
- 4:09 pm
- Brief news
Qatar is actively increasing pressure on UEFA to exclude Israel from international football competitions. A vote on this issue may take place on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, while Israel will be celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
According to information, the majority of the twenty participating countries with voting rights support this move. Only a few countries remain on Israel’s side.
Qatar against Israel: increasing pressure
In recent days, amid Qatar’s intensifying pressure, there is an active struggle to ensure that the issue of Israel’s exclusion is not brought up for discussion. Qatar aims to hold a vote at the next UEFA meeting, as confirmed by information that they are using all possible leverage to gain support.
If the decision is made, it will be a serious blow to Israeli football in Europe. The Israeli club “Maccabi” Tel Aviv is scheduled to start in the Europa League on Wednesday with an away match against the Greek “PAOK” in Thessaloniki.
Tensions between Israel and Qatar
In September, Israeli military operations were conducted in the Qatari capital, Doha. The Israel Defense Forces reported a targeted strike on the leadership of the Palestinian organization Hamas, significantly escalating the situation.
The Al Hadath channel mentioned that the operation was supported by US President Donald Trump. A month ago, Israel launched an offensive on the Gaza Strip, which was condemned by many countries, including Qatar.
Possible consequences of Israel’s exclusion
If Israel’s withdrawal from international tournaments occurs, it will happen against the backdrop of significant political and sports consequences. The situation surrounding football events has once again drawn attention to the broader context of regional tensions.
It is possible that the reaction of other countries to this decision will be varied. Leading football associations and sports officials may be forced to take a position to avoid losing standing on the international stage.