Norwegian Football Association president Lise Klaveness is looking forward to meeting her Israeli counterpart ahead of a World Cup qualifier between the two on Saturday, following the announcement of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas, she told Reuters.
The Norwegian Football Association said in August it would donate profits from ticket sales from Saturday’s Group I match against Israel to support Doctors Without Borders’ work in Gaza, prompting immediate criticism from Israelis.
«I always meet other football presidents before we play matches. I really like dialogue, and the more difficult it becomes, the more important it is that we meet, even if it is difficult,» Klaveness said in an interview on Friday.
The Israeli FA criticized the ticket money move at the time, saying: “It would be nice if part of the amount were used to try to find a condemnation by the Norwegian FA of the October 7 massacre that claimed the lives of hundreds of Israeli citizens and children.”
The Israeli government confirmed the ceasefire with Hamas in the early hours of Friday morning, paving the way for the suspension of hostilities in Gaza within 24 hours and the release of Israeli hostages held there within 72 hours afterwards.
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«We are of course extremely happy, on behalf of the parties involved around the world, that there is a ceasefire. Football is nothing compared to peace, and now the bombs over Gaza can stop, and hostages can come home,» Klaveness said.
«That is very important, and I think it is very important now that all of us, football leaders and leaders in all major organizations, give energy and momentum to this peace plan now. We all know it is a long road to lasting peace, but it is everyone’s responsibility to give it energy and momentum.»
The Norwegian Football Association has been working closely with police in Oslo on security issues surrounding the match, and Klaveness said she hoped Israeli fans would feel safe at the match.
“They are very welcome, and nothing we say or say should ever be interpreted as being directed at them or that we lack sympathy for what they have experienced with this horrific trauma of October 7, 2033,” she said.
“If we say anything about condemning the attack on Gaza, it does not mean that we condemn the attack on their people any less.”
The Norwegian men’s team, which has not qualified for the World Cup since 1998, leads the group of five teams with 15 points. The lead over third-placed Israel, which is behind Italy on goal difference, is six points.
Published on October 10, 2025
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