Gianni Infantino's Israel-Palestine handshake attempt backfires at FIFA Congress

FIFA president Gianni Infantino was left red-faced after an attempt to bring Israeli and Palestinian representatives together spectacularly misfired. As the governing body's chief confirmed his intention to stand for a third full term next year, he sought to stage a handshake between the two delegations.

Palestinian Football Federation president Jibril Rajoub refused to stand alongside Israeli FA vice-president Basim Sheikh Suliman. Rajoub shouted "We are suffering," as he left the stage. The conflict in Gaza intensified since it erupted in October 2023 with a surge in fighting across the West Bank. British Red Cross figures from March 2026 reveal that the death toll has surpassed 69,000, amongst them 17,000 children, with at least 170,000 further casualties recorded.

Infantino, who will seek re-election in Rabat, Morocco next year, brushed aside the humiliation, declaring: "We will work together, president Rajoub, vice-president Suliman. Let's work together to give hope to the children. These are complex matters."

Rajoub declined to do his bidding and Palestinian FA vice-president Susan Shalabi told Reuters: "I cannot shake the hand of someone the Israelis have brought to whitewash their fascism and genocide. We are suffering." It marked yet another high-profile moment of humiliation for FIFA during a year riddled with controversy for the governing body, and a further episode to forget for Infantino.

The FIFA president, who succeeded Sepp Blatter in 2016, had previously stood by the decision to stage the World Cup in Qatar with his notorious 'Today I feel' address. The 2026 World Cup is merely months away, yet the landmark tournament, taking place across North America in Canada, Mexico and the United States, remains overshadowed by Donald Trump and the Iran War.

The annual congress took place in Canada, but Iran were the sole country not in attendance. Representatives from the Iranian football federation had been expected at the gathering in Vancouver but proved the only nation missing from 211.

Local Iranian news agency Tasnim had previously reported that the delegation was turned back at border control. Meanwhile, amid the continuing turmoil in the Middle East, the national football team's participation in Group G at the World Cup remains uncertain, with doubt surrounding their involvement ahead of fixtures against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt.

Infantino said that Iran will compete at the World Cup this summer. When questioned, President Donald Trump responded: "Well if Gianni said it, I'm OK.

"Did Gianni say it? Gianni Infantino – that's a piece of work. If they win we'll have to worry about that. I'm going to have to worry about that one.

"You know what, let them play. Gianni is fantastic, he's a friend of mine, he talked about it, I said, 'You do whatever you want.' You can have them, you don't have to have them, they probably have a good team. Do they have a good team, do you have any idea?"