The Israel Football Association (IFA) has signed a new agreement with CONMEBOL which they “very much hope” will enable the Israel national team to take part in future editions of the Copa America.

CONMEBOL is the confederation responsible for the organisation and governance of South American football’s major tournaments, including the Copa America and the Copa Libertadores, which pits the continent’s best clubs against each other.

The IFA announced on Thursday they were “proud to join the magnificent CONMEBOL family”, whose members include reigning World Cup champions Argentina and five-time world champions Brazil.

The agreement was signed by CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez and IFA president Moshe Zuares during the CONMEBOL Congress in Asuncion, Paraguay.

A statement to The Athletic from Zuares said: “This is a particularly exciting, historic moment (and) an international breakthrough for the IFA.”

He added: “Our true friendship with Alejandro Guillermo Dominguez, president of CONMEBOL and (the) vice president of FIFA has given birth to (this) wonderful fruit for Israeli football.

“I very much hope that the Israeli national team will be part of one of the major tournaments organised by CONMEBOL, perhaps even the Copa America.”

A separate statement shared to the IFA’s official X account, was accompanied by videos of what appeared to show an Israeli delegation signing paperwork alongside CONMEBOL officials.

FIFA said they would not be commenting on the deal when contacted by The Athletic.

Orgullosos de ser parte de la gran familia @CONMEBOL . Juntos por el bien del juego y el compañerismo.

The IFA is Proud to join the magnificent CONMEBOL family. Together, for the good of the play and camaraderie

ההתאחדות לכדורגל וקונמבול חתמו על הסכם שת”פ היסטורי. שינו זוארץ:… pic.twitter.com/yklC88Y0uj

— ISRAEL FA (@ISRAELFA) April 11, 2024

Israel would not be the first non-traditional nation to take part in the Copa America.

Israel have been members of European confederation UEFA since 1994. They have never qualified for the European Championship but reached the play-0ffs ahead of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.

Israel were a founding member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and won the 1964 Asian Cup. They were later excluded from AFC competitions in 1974 following a vote after a number of teams refused to play against them.

UEFA confirmed in October no matches would take place in Israel “until further notice” in response to the Israel-Gaza war. Venues in Serbia, Cyprus and Hungary have all hosted European ties for Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv and Israel’s international fixtures.

As it stands, Israel have not left UEFA. The Athletic has contacted the IFA for further comment.

This year’s Copa America takes place in the United States, two years before they host the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.

CONMEBOL’s 10 teams will be joined by six teams from CONCACAF as the USMNT face off against South America’s finest.

The opening game of the tournament will be held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on June 20 with the final slated for July 14 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

(David Balogh – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)