UEFA Postpones Israel’s European Championship Qualifier Due to Conflict

UEFA has announced the postponement of Israel’s European Championship qualifying match against Kosovo, originally scheduled for Sunday. This decision was made in response to recent hostilities between Israel and the Gaza-based Islamist militant group, Hamas, which erupted after a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel. Israel subsequently declared war on Hamas, resulting in a devastating conflict that has claimed the lives of over 2,500 individuals on both sides, with thousands more sustaining injuries.

In an official statement released on Thursday, UEFA stated that the game in Pristina had to be postponed because the Israeli authorities currently prohibit their national team from traveling abroad. This delay places Israel two games behind in their tightly contested qualifying group, where they are competing with Switzerland and Romania for the top two spots. The top two teams in the group will secure a place in the Euro 2024 tournament hosted in Germany.

Furthermore, Israel was set to host the group leaders, Switzerland, in Tel Aviv on Thursday, but this match was also postponed, and it is now rescheduled to take place on November 15th. However, it remains uncertain whether Israel will be able to safely host these games, given the ongoing tensions in the region.

Israel now faces the challenge of playing three Euro 2024 qualifiers in a one-week international break next month, originally intended for just two games. One of the most crucial fixtures will be Israel’s home game against Romania, scheduled for November 18th and intended to be played in Jerusalem. This match is likely to have a significant impact on the final standings in the qualifying group.

The delayed game between Kosovo and Israel may also affect UEFA’s qualifying playoffs draw, initially planned for November 23rd. Even if Israel finishes third in the qualifying group, they will still advance to the playoffs due to their previous success in topping a Nations League group in the second tier last year. It is noteworthy that Israel has never reached the finals of a European Championship tournament since becoming a UEFA member and participating in Euro 1996 qualifying.