The 2026 FIFA World Cup is facing a storm before kick-off — and at the centre of it all is Israel. Europe’s football governing body UEFA is under intense pressure to ban Israel from competitions over the Palestine conflict, with countries like Spain and Norway leading the charge. Protests have erupted across multiple sports whenever Israel participates, but football is now the main battlefield. At the same time, the United States has declared it will block any attempts to ban Israel. With FIFA historically siding with Europe on Russia’s ban, but now tied closely to the US and President Donald Trump, whose side will FIFA take? Rupha Ramani breaks down the growing divide between Europe and America, and why Israel’s football future could reshape the World Cup forever.
