European Country Threaten 2026 World Cup Boycott as FIFA Sent Warning
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Spanish government officials have hinted they may withdraw the national team from the 2026 World Cup.
The tournament, world football's biggest, returns next summer in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the first time it will be hosted across three nations.
Reigning European champions Spain are early favourites with the bookmakers and are on track to qualify, having opened their campaign with back-to-back wins.
SportBible now suggests Luis de la Fuente's side could boycott the World Cup if Israel qualify.
Israel sit third in their group but remain in contention for at least a play-off place.
They trail leaders Norway by six points and are level with second-placed Italy, with three games left to play.
Only group winners qualify automatically, while runners-up may earn a play-off depending on results elsewhere.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has urged for Israel to be barred from international sporting events over its actions in Gaza.
He argued that Israel should face the same treatment as Russia, which was banned by FIFA and UEFA in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine.
"Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image," Sanchez told representatives of his Socialist Workers' Party.
Patxi López, spokesperson for the Socialist Group in Spanish Congress, has hinted that Spain could boycott the 2026 World Cup if Israel qualify and are allowed to take part.
His remarks follow Spanish broadcaster RTVE's threat to pull out of next year's Eurovision Song Contest should Israel compete, a stance already taken by broadcasters in the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland.
Echoing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, López urged sporting bodies to "exclude" Israel from competitions, as was done with Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
Pressed on whether Spain would withdraw from the World Cup, he replied that it would be considered "at the appropriate time" if no action is taken.
Sports Minister Pilar Alegría also backed exclusion, insisting sport cannot stand apart from the real world when "human rights are being destroyed." FIFA and UEFA have yet to respond.
A United Nations (UN) commission of inquiry said that there are reasonable grounds to believe Israel has committed four out of the five acts that constitute genocide under international law in Gaza.
According to the BBC, the ongoing conflict began after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage.
Israel's military offensive has resulted in the deaths of at least 64,964 Palestinians.