Madrid considers withdrawing from the 2026 World Cup in protest against Israel's participation

The ruling Socialist Party in Spain has hinted at the possibility of the Spanish national team not participating in the 2026 World Cup if the Israeli team qualifies for the tournament scheduled in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Party parliamentary spokesman, Patxi López, stated that Spain is pushing for Israel's exclusion from international sporting events due to the Gaza war, emphasizing that the final decision regarding participation will be made in due time.

This stance aligns with previous statements from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who called for Israel to be barred from global sports competitions, while its team still maintains hopes of qualifying from its European group.

Spain had also previously threatened to boycott the Eurovision competition if Israel participated, while the International Olympic Committee stressed that athletes should remain away from political sanctions.