Advocacy group calls on Canada Soccer to refuse to host World Cup if Israel plays

They haven't yet qualified, but Israel could be facing other challenges making it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

A Canadian independent human rights group has joined the growing calls to suspend Israeli soccer teams from international play over the war in Gaza.

Just Peace Advocates, a Toronto-based Palestinian-solidarity organization, sent a letter this week calling on Canada Soccer to publicly demand the suspension of the Israeli Football Association, and to refuse to host next summer's World Cup if Israel remains part of it.

The letter is signed by some 270 academics, legal experts, journalists and advocates.

Vancouver and Toronto will both represent Canada as co-host cities during the 2026 World Cup tournament, which is being jointly hosted by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

Canada Soccer has an obligation under its own bylaws, as well as FIFA's human rights policy, to suspend or expel Israel from playing given "extensive evidence that the Israel Football Association is in violation of international law," Rebecca Steckle, a research and policy analyst with Just Peace Advocates, told CBC News.

This is especially true given that Canada Soccer previously announced it wouldn't play Russian teams at any level after the country invaded Ukraine, Steckle added.

"Canada Soccer can't claim to be apolitical or neutral, because they've taken action before against international legal violations," she said.

"Nothing is neutral. And when we're talking particularly about countries being allowed to engage in sporting activities, it's inherently political, right? These sports teams are representing their countries."

CBC News has reached out to Canada Soccer for comment but didn't immediately hear back.

Israel has become diplomatically