FIFA: UAE and 'Israel' Could Organize World Cup 2030 Together

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has put to “Israel” the idea of hosting the 2030 World Cup in cooperation with countries in the region, led by the United Arab Emirates.

The official Twitter account of the Prime Minister of “Israel” posted a tweet that read: "Israeli Prime Minister Bennett met today with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and congratulated him on his first visit to Israel.

“The FIFA president floated the idea of Israel hosting the 2030 World World Cup Games, along with other countries in the region, notably the United Arab Emirates."

 

 

 

FIFA Normalization

Last week, the Palestinian Football Federation announced that it had apologized for receiving the FIFA president in response to his participation in a ceremony held on the ruins of the Islamic cemetery of Mamulla (Ma'manullah) in Jerusalem.

In a statement received by Anatolia, the Palestinian Union said it was surprised by Infantino's participation in a "lullaby held at the Museum of Tolerance, located above the Islamic Cemetery of Mamulla, in occupied Jerusalem."

The Palestinian Union noted that Infantino's participation "in the ceremony is a politicization of sport, and will not serve either the cause of peace, nor tolerance".

Infantino participated in the launch of the Friedman Center for Peace through Force, which was held at the Headquarters of the Museum of Tolerance on the grounds of the Ma'manullah Cemetery in Jerusalem.

The oldest, largest and most famous cemetery in Jerusalem, Mamulla, is located in western Jerusalem, and “Israel” has established tourist facilities and buildings on parts of it, including the Museum of Tolerance.

 

UAE-‘Israel’ Normalization

In December 2020, The UAE Football Federation announced the signing of a cooperation agreement with its Israeli counterpart in the presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The UAE Federation said in a statement that the cooperation agreement includes "holding friendly matches for all national teams and clubs, joint workshops for technical and administrative elements of the two federations, as well as development initiatives that will contribute to supporting the course of the game in the two countries".

Mohammed al-Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Emirates Football Federation, said: "This agreement is an activation of the peace treaty signed between the UAE and the State of Israel, as we have been keen in the Football Association to coordinate with the Israeli Federation on this unique agreement in the Middle East, which carries a message of peace from the land of peace, and we are confident that its return will be very positive and will serve both parties."

"The presence of Gianni Infantino, president of the International Federation in the UAE and his attendance at the signing ceremony of the agreement, confirms FIFA's keenness and encouragement on such initiatives that serve football, which is one of the most important activities that help bring people closer together."

Many sports agreements have been signed between federations of the two countries since the announcement of the normalization of relations in mid-August.

The Beitar Al Quds Club, which plays in the Israeli First Division football league, announced that nearly 50 percent of its shares have been transferred to UAE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, a member of the ruling family in Abu Dhabi.

Even before the signing of the normalization agreement between the two countries, there were mutual participations between the two countries in sports events held by the other country.

In March 2018, two Israeli drivers participated in the Abu Dhabi Desert Rally.

In the same month, 20 Israeli athletes participated in the World Jujitsu World Championship for The Martial Arts of Young People in the UAE.

In May 2018, the UAE participated in the "Tour of Italy 2018" cycling in “Israel.”

In October 2018, the Israeli anthem was played in the UAE, after an Israeli player won an international judo tournament, in the presence of UAE Minister of Culture and Sports, Miri Regev.

In March 2019, an Israeli sports delegation participated in the Olympic Games for athletes with special needs in Abu Dhabi.

 

First Israeli Player

Two professional football leagues in the UAE and “Israel” have concluded a cooperation agreement in the first step of its kind between an Arab country and “Israel.”

The memorandum of understanding comes after the UAE became the first Gulf country to establish official relations with “Israel” and the third Arab country after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.

The announcement of the agreement came after al-Nasr's UAE team, which plays in the UAE Pro Football League, included Israeli player Zia Saba.

"The agreement will contribute to promoting peace, cooperation and friendship and serve the interests of football in both countries," said Abdullah Nasser al-Junaibi, president of the UAE Professional League.

Israel's Channel 24 quoted Emirati sources as saying that Emirati businessmen plan to invest in the "Beitar Jerusalem" football team known for its far-right audience positions.

According to the Israeli channel, a series of meetings between Emirati investors with wealthy Israeli team owner Moshe Hojj are supposed to take place within days, and that if they agree, it will be the first UAE investment in sports in “Israel.”

The team, which enjoys the support of right-wingers and racists in “Israel” and is named after a Zionist organization, is known for its fans' positions against Arab and Muslim players previously brought in by the team, chanting against them and insulting them.

Rami Greenberg, mayor of Beitar Jerusalem, northeast of Tel Aviv, announced the municipality's intention to open a sports hall in his city named after the UAE.

He said in remarks carried by Israeli media that he intends to inaugurate the hall on the day of the signing of the agreement to normalize relations between “Israel” and the UAE at the White House in Washington.

The Israeli team Hapoel Be'er Sheva invited the UAE football league champions Shabab al-Ahli to visit “Israel” for a friendly match between them in the Negev city of Beersheba in southern “Israel.”