Billboard in NYC’s Times Square calls on European soccer federations to boycott Israel

A coalition of advocacy organizations and fan groups calls on European soccer federations to boycott Israel in a Times Square billboard, kicking off the #GameOverIsrael campaign months ahead of the World Cup.

The billboard went up on Tuesday in New York, which is set to host eight matches in the World Cup next year, including the final. Canada and Mexico are co-hosting the quadrennial international competition with the United States.

The campaign calls on soccer federations in Belgium, England, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Scotland, and Spain to boycott the Israel national team and ban Israeli players from domestic competitions, citing the ongoing attacks in Gaza.

Reuters isn’t immediately able to reach FIFA, UEFA and the Israel Football Association for comment.

“As the United States prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, Americans must not allow our stadiums to become platforms for whitewashing war crimes,” says American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee National Executive Director Abed Ayoub in a statement.

The ADC launched the #GameOverIsrael initiative with several European partners.

“We stand with our European counterparts and demand that every football governing body take immediate and decisive action to bar Israel from international competition,” says Ayoub. “The world must tell Israel that the game is over, and there is no room in sports for war criminals.”