By Norway has announced that it will donate all proceeds from its upcoming World Cup qualifier against Israel to humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza
The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) said it “cannot remain indifferent” to the suffering of civilians and pledged that ticket sales from the October 11 match in Oslo will go to Doctors Without Borders
“We want to support a humanitarian organization that saves lives in Gaza every day and provides emergency aid on the ground,” NFF president Lise Klaveness explained in a statement
The match is expected to draw a large crowd at Ullevaal Stadium, though attendance could be reduced by about 3,000 due to heightened security measures. Normally, Norway’s home games attract around 26,000 fans
The Israeli Football Association responded by urging Norway to also denounce the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and to ensure the funds are not diverted to terrorist groups
Because of the ongoing conflict, Israel has been unable to host international matches at home and previously played Norway in Hungary, where Norway secured a 4–2 victory in March
Norway currently leads its five-team qualifying group, ahead of both Israel and Italy. Meanwhile, in Italy, the national coaches’ association (AIAC) has called for Israel’s suspension from international football, arguing that soccer must also take action
