Spanish official suggests withdrawing from World Cup 2026 if ‘Israel’ competes
Spanish officials threatened to withdraw their national football team from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a move prompted by escalating diplomatic tensions with ‘Israel’ over its aggression on the Gaza Strip.
Read more: Spain threatens to boycott Eurovision if 'Israel' allowed to compete
Spanish officials, including Socialist Group spokesperson Patxi López, have publicly suggested a World Cup boycott if ‘Israel’ qualifies and is allowed to compete.
Patxi López’s remarks came during a plenary session of the Spanish Parliament in response to inquiries about the protests against ‘Israel’s’ aggression on the Gaza Strip.
“Israel is now invading the Gaza Strip by land, and this requires a response. The vast majority of Spanish society cannot tolerate the images we see daily in every newscast, amid our complicit silence,” López said.
When asked if Spain could withdraw if ‘Israel’ competed, Lopez said, "We'll consider it later" – adding that the request could be made "at the appropriate time" if no action against ‘Israel’ is taken.
The Spanish government has repeatedly drawn a parallel to the ban imposed on Russia by FIFA and UEFA in 2022 following its war with Ukraine.
The threat is part of a broader shift in Spain's foreign policy, which recently included recognizing a Palestinian state. This stance has been met with a sharp response from ‘Israel’.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been a vocal critic of ‘Israel's’ war, which he has referred to as "genocide," and has called for the country to be "excluded from international sports competitions".
‘Israeli’ Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has called Sánchez "a disgrace" and accused his government of a "continuous anti-Israel and antisemitic attack".
Read more: Spain calls for 'Israel’s' exclusion from international sports
The dispute became a public spectacle when a pro-Palestinian protest disrupted the Vuelta a España cycling race, an incident for which the ‘Israeli’ government held Sánchez directly responsible.
Spanish officials appear to have strong public backing for their position, with a poll showing that 82% of Spaniards believe ‘Israel’ is committing genocide.
