FIFA, the governing body of soccer worldwide, will propose a match between Israel and Palestine during the inaugural game of its under-15s football festival, to be held in September, according to reports on Monday by The Guardian and The Athletic.
The match would be played during a symbolic tournament in the US, with players from all 211 of FIFA’s member associations present -including Russia, which has been banned from tournaments ever since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino will aim for the match to take place, with previous attempts to show “good relations” between the Israeli and Palestinian associations failing.
FIFA’s tense moment with Israeli, Palestinian representatives
The tournament was already announced in May, during a FIFA congress that was better remembered because of a tense situation between the Israel FA Vice-President Basim Sheikh Suliman and the Palestinian soccer federation President Jibril Rajoub.
Rajoub refused to stand alongside Suliman during their speeches at the congress after Infantino called them to the podium.
PFA President, Mr Jibril Rajoub refuses to shake hands with the Israeli Football Association representative despite FIFA President’s insistence.
الفريق جبريل الرجوب يرفض مصافحة ممثل الاتحاد الإسرائيلي رغم إلحاح رئيس الفيفا..
من حقنا أن نمارس كرة القدم بكل حرية كما كل شعوب… pic.twitter.com/uAWd41IPkY
— Palestine Football Association (@Palestine_fa) April 30, 2026
Infantino put his hand on Rajoub’s arm and invited him with a gesture to come closer to Suliman, but to no avail.
According to The Guardian, a handshake was scheduled between the two soccer executives, but Rajoub changed his mind during Suliman’s speech.
Asked what Rajoub said when he refused, Palestinian FA Vice-President Susan Shalabi, who was in the room, told Reuters: “I cannot shake the hand of someone the Israelis have brought to whitewash their fascism and genocide. We are suffering.”
Infantino then took the stand and said: “We will work together, President Rajoub, Vice-President Suliman. Let’s work together to give hope to the children. These are complex matters.”
Now Infantino seems to aim for a new encounter between delegations, with no official decision over the match having been taken as of the writing of this article.
