FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Rajarshi Shukla
Considering the ongoing atrocity against countless Palestinians, the Norwegian FA has declared that it would not play the Israeli national team in the 2026 World Cup qualifying round for Europe.
The Norwegian Football Association is actively lobbying international football organizations to impose punishment on Israel, according to Liz Klaveness, the organization’s president.
Klaveness’s comments about the qualifying draw, which paired Norway with Israel, Estonia, Moldova, and the loser of the Germany-Italy quarterfinal in the European Nations League.
“The Football Association supports the Norwegian government’s stance and demands an immediate halt to Israeli attacks on innocent civilians in Gaza,” Klaveness said, expressing her sympathy for the Palestinian cause. he added, “None of us can remain indifferent to the ongoing atrocities in Gaza.”
Klaveness added that Norway takes an active role in international calls for sanctions on Israel: “Israel is still part of UEFA competitions. We have to deal with that. We are following the situation closely with FIFA, UEFA and the Norwegian authorities.”
Ståle Solbakken, the coach of the national team, also offered his thoughts on the draw and the wider ramifications of playing Israel: “I don’t know if we’re afraid, but this is going to be a significant topic of discussion. That’s how it should be, especially given everything that has happened. During my tenure, there’s been a lot of politics, and it continues even now.”
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) filed an accusation against the Israeli Football Association (IFA) in May, and FIFA, the organization that oversees world football, has once again postponed making a decision.
Israel will be the opponent of the Norwegian national team on March 25 and October 11. The association’s boycott decision, however, casts doubt on whether these matches will go forward.
Even while the pitch is frequently the centre of attention, this draw has raised political and humanitarian concerns, guaranteeing that Norway’s World Cup trip will involve more than simply football.
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