The United States government will try to prevent any attempt to ban Israel from competing at the 2026 World Cup.
A United Nations commission of inquiry said earlier this month that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
That has led a panel of UN experts and the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call for sporting sanctions against the country.
Next year's World Cup is being co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada.
A US State Department spokesperson told BBC Sport: We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel's national soccer team from the World Cup.
Meanwhile, there have been reports that European football's governing body Uefa— which organizes World Cup qualifying matches— could meet to decide whether to suspend Israel as early as next week.
One senior source at a European member association told BBC Sport: Our understanding is that Uefa leadership wants to see some action on this.
Israel is set to play Norway in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo on 11 October.
Earlier this month, Norwegian football federation president Lise Klaveness said her organization has to deal with Israel participating in their competitions, but cannot and will not be indifferent to the humanitarian suffering that is taking place in the region, especially the disproportionate attacks against civilians in Gaza.
The Italian FA has also spoken about the challenges of playing Israel, who Italy hosts on 14 October in Udine.
The UN report detailed that there were reasonable grounds to conclude that four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law had been carried out since the conflict resurgence in 2023.
A panel of human rights experts at the UN subsequently called on world football governing body Fifa and UEFA to suspend Israel's national team from international football, asserting, Sports must reject the perception that it is business as usual.
Israel consistently denies the accusations of genocide, justifying their actions in Gaza as self-defense. The nation's foreign ministry labeled the UN report as distorted and false.
After the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, approximately 1,200 people were reported dead with 251 taken hostage. In retaliation, the Israeli military launched campaigns in Gaza, resulting in at least 65,419 casualties according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
Calls for Israel's ban from sporting events have increased post-UN report, with Uefa considering the matter. Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez indicated Israel should undergo similar treatment as Russia, suggesting they be excluded from international sports competitions.
With the push from various nations and increasing dissatisfaction, Sanchez emphasized that Israel must not utilize international platforms to whitewash its image.
In concurrent events, significant protests took place opposing Israel's participation in sports, with demonstrators sending petitions to Uefa against Israeli representation in tournaments.
As the geopolitical landscape continues to influence sports, both the US and international governing bodies face critical decisions regarding active participation amidst controversies surrounding human rights and state actions.
