Potential Spanish Boycott of the 2026 World Cup in the Event of Israel's Qualification?
In a significant development, several countries have expressed their intention to boycott the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, with Spain being among them. This move comes as part of a broader movement against Israel's participation in international sporting and cultural events.
The decision to boycott the Eurovision is not contingent upon the 2026 World Cup qualifiers calendar and is being made ahead of the competition's scheduling. The countries involved are using this potential boycott as a pressure tactic regarding the Palestinian cause.
Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, and his ministers have been vocal about their desire to exclude Israeli teams from sporting competitions. This sentiment is echoed by Patxi Lopez, the spokesperson for the Socialist Party, who hinted at a potential boycott of the 2026 World Cup by La Roja if Israel qualifies. Lopez indicated this on Tuesday, suggesting a possible pressure tactic.
The Israeli team is currently tied with Italy for 2nd place in its qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup. If Israel qualifies, it would join the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, there is no clear statement from Patxi López about what he intends to do in such a scenario.
The model for exclusion is similar to the one used for Russian teams, banned since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands have also expressed their intention to boycott the next Eurovision if Israel is not excluded.
Notably, no explicit statement was made about La Roja boycotting the Eurovision tournament if Israel qualifies and wins the group. The next Eurovision is the target of potential boycotts due to Israel's participation, mirroring Spain's intention to boycott the 2026 World Cup if Israel qualifies.
The Spanish government has also supported protests against Israel-Premier Tech's participation in the last Vuelta, a cycling race. This further underscores the strong stance against Israel's participation in international events among some countries.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the boycott plans will unfold and whether they will put pressure on the authorities to address the Palestinian cause.
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