Following Spain’s victory in the World Cup final, Palestinians in Gaza celebrated the result as a symbol of solidarity, contrasting their support for the Spanish team with the public backing of Argentina by Israeli officials. The celebration occurred amid ongoing conflict and severe humanitarian conditions in the territory, where football served as a focal point for political sentiment.
Gaza Celebrates Spain’s World Cup Title
For many residents of Gaza, the World Cup final was more than a sporting event; it served as a rare moment of relief and political expression. As the final whistle confirmed Spain’s win, crowds gathered in cafes and makeshift outdoor screening areas to celebrate, despite the persistent danger of Israeli airstrikes. According to reports, the victory was met with genuine emotion, with some fans describing feelings of overwhelming happiness.
Honestly, I felt like I was about to cry from happiness,
said Arkan al-Walaida, a 23-year-old resident who spent the tournament tracking match highlights at internet cafes each morning due to limited power and internet connections. We see their support as a sign of humanity.
The Political Divide Between Spain and Argentina
The tournament’s atmosphere was shaped by the geopolitical stances of the competing nations. Palestinians gravitated toward Spain, which has been among Europe’s most vocal critics of Israel’s war on Gaza and state-backed violence in the occupied West Bank. Spain is currently pushing for stronger European Union action over human rights violations, including the suspension of a broad free trade pact. The connection was solidified by teenage star Lamine Yamal, who had previously displayed a Palestinian flag during Barcelona’s La Liga title celebrations in May.
Saadi al-Masri, 40, who serves as the captain of the Gaza al-Irada amputee football team, watched the game with friends in a cafe. I support Spain because we see it as a country that stands with the Palestinian cause and supports Palestinian rights,
he said. We were very happy when the final whistle confirmed Spain’s victory.
In contrast, Israeli leadership publicly aligned with Argentina. Israeli support for the team was led by Netanyahu, who has cultivated close ties with president Javier Milei and posted a good luck message for the team ahead of the final. A Gaza poet later reposted Netanyahu’s message alongside an image of Yamal carrying the Palestinian flag, labeling the Spanish victory revenge in its finest form.
Tensions Surrounding Lamine Yamal
The support for Yamal in Gaza follows broader diplomatic friction. When Israel’s defence minister attacked Yamal for raising the Palestinian flag, accusing him of inciting hatred,
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez intervened to defend the young player. Lamine has only expressed the solidarity with Palestine that is felt by millions of us in Spain. Another reason to be proud of him,
Sánchez stated in a social media post.
In Gaza, the sentiment was clear. The Gaza al-Irada amputee football team captured this feeling in a video message released before the final, stating, Whoever raises the Palestinian flag deserves to raise the World Cup.
Humanitarian Hardship and the Risk of Conflict
The ability to follow the tournament was severely hampered by the ongoing war. Most of the 2 million Palestinians in the territory live in tent camps after Israeli attacks destroyed their homes, leaving them with little access to power or internet connections. Arkan al-Walaida noted that she relied on TikTok or Fifa’s official YouTube and Instagram pages to catch up on the tournament.
The danger was underscored in early July, when an Israeli bomb killed Mohamed al-Wahidi, a Palestinian aid worker known for organizing World Cup screenings in the region. The strike, which occurred just before the match between Egypt and Argentina, also killed two brothers aged eight and 10, and a second man. While the Israeli military confirmed the attack, it stated that it had not targeted al-Wahidi.
Due to the high risk of further airstrikes, the celebrations following Spain’s victory were muted, with no late-night parties reported. As the tournament concluded, the Palestinian delegation to the United Nations marked the event by posting an image of the Spanish team under the headline world champions.
Sources: Theguardian, Haaretz.
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