Heartbreak for Israeli football, but also hope
SO incredibly close, yet so far!
In a crucial 2022 World Cup qualifier match in Glasgow on October 9 that Israel needed at least a draw from, Scotland’s Scott McTominay scored off a corner in the 94th minute to earn his side a heart-stopping 3-2 win.
Eran Zahavi and Munas Dabbur were Israel’s goal-scorers against the Scots, and also on October 12 in Israel’s 2-1 victory over Moldova in Beersheba.
But with just two qualifying matches remaining in November, and only the top two of six sides in Group F advancing, Israel sits in third place, behind Scotland and leader Denmark.
Israel can only qualify for the first time since 1970 with wins against Austria and the Faroe Islands, and if Scotland loses to both Moldova and Denmark.
Mathematically possible? Yes. Likely? No.
But in brighter news for Israeli football – off the field – FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on October 11, that the signing of the Abraham Accords could eventually lead to Israel co-hosting the FIFA Football World Cup in the future with its Arab neighbours.
In a speech at the opening of the Friedman Centre for Peace Through Strength, at the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, Infantino said the US-brokered normalisation deals that Israel signed last year – with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco – could lead to regional cooperation in hosting major tournaments, even the World Cup.
He added FIFA was looking at expanding the men’s and women’s World Cups, and hosting them every two years instead of every four, and as such could see Israel co-host.
“Why can’t we dream of the World Cup in Israel and its neighbours?” Infantino asked. “With the Abraham Accords, why should we not do it here in Israel, with her neighbours in the Middle East, and the Palestinians?”
Meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett the next day, Infantino raised the possibility of Israel hosting some matches of the 2030 World Cup, along with other regional states such as the United Arab Emirates, according to the Ynet news site.
Infantino also held Israel’s national football teams, where Jewish and Arab Israelis play together, as an example of coexistence inspired by sport.
Israel’s Minister of Sport and Culture, Chile Tropper, who met Infantino, welcomed his remarks and said they discussed future cooperation between FIFA and Israel.
However, the FIFA chief’s participation in the event reportedly angered the Palestinians, who cancelled a meeting between him and the head of the Palestinian soccer federation, Jibril Rajoub, in Ramallah, Army Radio reported.
TIMES OF ISRAEL
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