Patxi López, spokesman for the Socialist group in the Spanish Parliament, threatened to withdraw his country from the 2026 World Cup if Israel qualifies.
Spain is exerting significant international pressure to stop the genocide in Gaza, condemning Israel at every forum, and working to prevent Israeli athletes from competing in international events.
The Spanish have already threatened not to participate in Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates. There have also been incidents at the Vuelta involving the Israel-Premier Tech team, and it appears that football will have a share in the broader Spanish campaign against the Zionist state.
“If Israel qualifies for the tournament, we will evaluate the situation in due course,” López said in media statements regarding the 2026 World Cup.
He added, “What we want is for people to realize that if Israeli teams cannot participate in sporting events or Eurovision, some are starting to open their eyes to what is happening in Gaza.”
He concluded, “Our eyes are wide open, and we will not tolerate what we see. That’s why we cannot and will not remain silent.”
Israel is currently third in its 2026 World Cup qualifying group, which also includes Norway and Italy. Its chances of reaching the European playoffs are slim after its recent 5-4 loss to Italy.
