Spain threatens to boycott the 2026 World Cup should Israel secure a spot in the tournament
In a recent development, the Spanish government has thrown its weight behind protests against Israel-Premier Tech's participation in the Vuelta and has expressed its intention to boycott the next Eurovision if Israel is not excluded. This stance is particularly committed to the Palestinian cause.
The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and his ministers have shown their desire to see Israeli teams excluded from sporting competitions. This move is modelled after the ban of Russian teams since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Israeli team is still in contention for a playoff spot in the qualifying group for the Eurovision. However, Spain, along with Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, has already expressed its intention to boycott the contest if Israel participates. The specific reasons for this boycott have not been outlined in the reports.
The Israeli team is currently tied with Italy in its qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup, both having 9 points. The 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Calendar has not been specified in the article, but it is known that the tournament will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. No decision regarding the boycott of the 2026 World Cup has been officially made by the Spanish government.
Patxi Lopez, the spokesperson for the Socialist Party, hinted at a potential boycott of the 2026 World Cup by La Roja if Israel qualifies. He indicated this on Tuesday, suggesting a possible use of pressure on the authorities. However, it is important to note that the Spanish government's stance on the boycott of the 2026 World Cup is not mentioned in the article.
The article does not provide any information on the current status of Israel's participation in the Eurovision. Similarly, it does not mention any potential consequences of the boycott of the Eurovision by Spain and the other mentioned countries.
It is worth noting that the boycott of the Eurovision is a separate issue from the boycott of the 2026 World Cup, which is still under consideration by the Spanish government. The Spanish government's stance on the boycott of the Eurovision is not mentioned in the article.
This development comes as a significant move in the ongoing debate about Israel's participation in international sporting and cultural events, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
