Palestine Football Association Denies Reports of FIFA Youth Match Against Israel

The Palestine Football Association (PFA) has officially denied recent media reports claiming that FIFA intends to schedule a youth match between Palestine and Israel. In a statement released on Thursday, the PFA said it had not received any official communication from FIFA regarding such a proposal.

Reports earlier this week suggested that FIFA, led by President Gianni Infantino, was planning to include a Palestine-Israel match as the opening fixture of a new annual under-15 tournament. The tournament is set to begin later this year and will be open to both boys' and girls' teams from all 211 FIFA member associations, including Russia.

The PFA emphasized its longstanding stance, stating that it categorically rejects any attempt to promote or impose matches with an occupying power that systematically targets Palestinian athletes and sports infrastructure. The association noted that over 1,000 Palestinian athletes have been killed in the last three years, including former national team captain Sulaiman Al-Obaid and karate champion Nagham Abu Samra.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been a proponent of using football to build bridges. However, his previous efforts, such as attempting to arrange a handshake between PFA President Jibril Rajoub and Israeli Football Association Vice President Basim Sheikh Suliman at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver in April, failed. Rajoub protested and left the stage.

In December, Infantino highlighted the importance of youth competitions, describing the under-15 festivals as a fundamental step in giving talent a chance worldwide and reinvesting in the game.