The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced that the 2027 European Under-19 Championship, originally scheduled to be held in Israel, will be relocated to the Czech Republic.
The decision was attributed solely to Israel’s security situation over the past two years of war, which prevented sufficient preparations, inspections of facilities, hotels and logistics.
“UEFA was very patient until it made its decision, and we managed to delay the verdict for a long period. The reasons for UEFA’s decision are purely pragmatic and I respect the heads of the organization for their willingness to wait until the very last possible moment,” Moshe (Shino) Zuares, head of the Israel Football Association, responded.
“From our perspective, we would of course have met the highest standards we’ve set for previous tournaments we hosted — which earned praise from the participating national teams and UEFA," he added. "But under the present circumstances, time has become critical. We will do everything to step back on the pitch and be part of the tournament in the Czech Republic — and I have no doubt that in the future we will again earn the right to host major tournaments and even finals in European competitions.”
UEFA officials have held meetings with leaders of the pro-Palestinian campaign Game Over Israel to discuss the potential suspension of Israel from international soccer competitions, The Athletic reported last week.
The campaign was launched in New York on September 17. Its organizers are pressing European federations to expel Israel from UEFA tournaments, citing human rights concerns.
2 View gallery
Israel Football Association Chairman Moshe (Shino) Zuares with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin
(Photo: Oz Moalem)
UEFA came close to putting Israel’s continued participation to a vote in late September, under pressure from several member associations, including Ireland and Switzerland. However, the proposal was shelved following the Gaza ceasefire.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has reportedly expressed sympathy for the suffering in Gaza. He personally supported a message displayed during August’s UEFA Super Cup match reading “Stop Killing Children; Stop Killing Civilians.” Two child refugees from Gaza also participated in the medal ceremony. Čeferin has also explored meeting with Richard Falk, a former UN special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories and a key advisor to Game Over Israel.