• Source:JND
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FIFA World Cup 2026: The Spanish government has said that it might boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup. One of football's biggest tournaments will be held next year in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and it's the first time that this event will be held in three different countries.

Spain is considered one of the favourites to win the title and is on the verge of qualifying for the upcoming event after winning two matches of the qualifiers.

But according to the latest development, they might pull out from the mega event if Israel also qualifies for the same.

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Israel is lying in the third position in the qualifying group and is on the verge of at least reaching the playoffs. They are six points short of table toppers Norway, but have the same points as Italy, who are lying in second position, and still have three matches more to play.

The group winner will qualify directly for the World Cup, and whichever team finishes in second position will fight for a play-off position depending on the results of other matches.

Pedro Sanchez, who is Spain's Prime Minister, has requested that Israel not be a part of the international sports tournament due to its actions in Gaza.

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Sanchez revealed that Israel should be treated just like Russia, who were banned from international tournaments like FIFA and UEFA after it invaded Ukraine way back in 2022.

“Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image," Sanchez said to the Socialist Worker's party.

Could Spain boycott the 2026 World Cup?

Patxi Lopes, who is the sportsperson of the Socialist Group of the Spanish Congress, has said that the government might decide to pull out from the World Cup next year if Israel qualifies and participates in the mega event.

Resonating with Sanchez's statement, Lopez urged the sports associations not to include Israel in any tournament, as was done with Russia.

Lopez was also asked whether Spain might pull out from the mega event if Israel plays in it, and to this, he replied that they might think about it later.

Neither FIFA nor UEFA has replied to Sanchez and Lopez's statements yet.