FIFA Eyes Israel-Palestine Youth Match to Open U-15 Tournament in the U.S.

FIFA is planning a new under-15 youth tournament in the United States in September, and according to a report in The Athletic that was also confirmed in Israel, the opening match is expected to be Israel versus Palestine. The Israeli Football Association did not rule out the game and said, “We will always agree to use football to promote reconciliation.”

The tournament is being branded by FIFA as an “under-15 football festival” and will be open to all 211 member associations, including Russia, which has been suspended from FIFA competitions since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. FIFA is reportedly hoping to launch the event with the Israel-Palestine fixture.

The idea follows an earlier push by FIFA president Gianni Infantino to arrange a handshake and joint photo between representatives of the Israeli and Palestinian football associations at the organization’s annual congress on April 30 in Vancouver. At that time, Jibril Rajoub, chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, refused the initiative.

The Israeli Football Association said its chairman, Shino Zuares, stands behind his repeated public comments at FIFA Congress and elsewhere that football should be used to advance normalization and peace. “Our hands are always outstretched toward a better future for everyone,” the association said. “We hope to find a brave partner on the other side.”