Israel could co-host future World Cup in region, FIFA president says
Gianni Infantino made the remarks during his first official visit as FIFA president to Israel
A future World Cup tournament hosted by Israel and its neighbours is one step closer to reality thanks to the Abraham Accords, FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino has said.
He said during his first official visit to Israel that a jointly-hosted tournament was a possibility as world football’s governing body considers expanding the format for men’s and women’s games.
There has been speculation that some tournaments could be held annually.
“Why can’t we dream of the World Cup in Israel and its neighbours?” he asked at the opening of the Friedman Centre, a think-tank launched in Jerusalem by the former US ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
“With the Abraham Accords, why should we not do it here in Israel with her neighbours in the Middle East and the Palestinians?”
Infantino also pointed to Israel’s national team, in which Jewish and Arab Israelis routinely play alongside each other, as an example of coexistence inspired by sport.
The first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East is set to take place in Qatar at the end of next year, amid widespread criticism of the nomination process and the host’s human rights record.
But the philanthropist Sylvan Adams told a separate event on Tuesday that an Israeli-hosted event could be held as early as 2030.
He told the Jerusalem Post’s annual conference that he was in contact with FIFA over the possibility of organising a regional World Cup at the end of this decade in Israel.
“I am willing to help, as I did with the Giro d’Italia (cycle) race, but we need the government’s help,” he said in remarks addressed to Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
No host has yet been awarded for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, although several candidate have emerged – including a possible joint bid that would unite the four nations of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
