Israel signs agreement with South American soccer federation, paving way for elite competition

• Published date: 12 April 2024
• Author: JUAN MELAMED/JTA
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Israel currently plays in the Union of European Football Associations and has given no indication that it is about to bolt that organization to become a member of the South American association, called CONMEBOL. But in the agreement, announced on Thursday, Israel and CONMEBOL pledged to increase collaboration in soccer development, coaching, refereeing, and women's and youth football programs

More significantly, it could pave the way toward Israel's future participation in the South American federation's prestigious tournaments, the Copa America and the Copa Libertadores. The Copa America tournament, which is one of the most-watched soccer competitions in the world, typically includes two teams from FIFA's other soccer federations. Japan and Qatar both competed in 2019, for example.

"I very much hope that the Israeli national team will be part of one of the major tournaments organized by CONMEBOL, perhaps even the Copa America," Israel Football Association chairman Moshe Zuares told The Athletic.

"This is a particularly exciting, historic moment, an international breakthrough for the Football Association," Zuares said in a press release. "We signed an agreement for cooperation with giant powers, world champions, countries where football is a cornerstone, a culture."

Football for peace

The agreement has been in the works since a visit to Israel by CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez in September, shortly before Hamas' Oct. 7 invasion launched the ongoing war in Gaza.

"During my visit to Israel, I learned how much you love the game," Dominguez said during the meeting, according to Israeli media. "Football connects cultures, no matter how great the geographical distance, and can contribute to peace."

The agreement is a rare bright spot for Israeli athletics in the six months since the Israel-Hamas war began, during which Israeli athletes have faced backlash and, in the case of one Israeli soccer player in Turkey, brief police detention.

In one incident that occurred at a qualifying game for the Copa Libertadores tournament, fans were ejected for accusing Israel of genocide as their team, a century-old Chilean soccer squad founded by Palestinian immigrants, qualified for the tournament's main group stage. FIFA has also faced calls from...