CounterPunch Exclusives

CounterPunch Exclusives

While the World Cup Plays On, Palestine Refuses to Die

Photograph Source: Creative Commons of Gaza

In memory of Mohammed al-Wahidi and the countless aid workers murdered by the genocidal Israeli Occupation Forces.

As billions tune in to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the beautiful game has once again exposed the ugly truth of global power. While FIFA and its corporate sponsors desperately try to keep the spectacle “apolitical,” fans, players, coaches, and public figures have turned stadiums and streets into platforms of defiance. Palestinian flags wave, “Free Palestine” echoes through the stands, and Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza remains impossible to ignore.

The message from the terraces is unmistakable: sport cannot be separated from politics when children are being slaughtered and entire families erased. Spain has distinguished itself as one of the strongest European voices for Palestine. The country has imposed sanctions on Israel and broken diplomatic ties in response to the genocide in Gaza. This principled stance has made the Spanish team a clear favorite among Palestinian supporters as they face Argentina in the final of the 2026 World Cup.

Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem created one of the tournament’s defining images when a Palestinian supporter handed him a flag during Spain’s match against France. Bardem held it high, declaring “Existence is resistance,” “Free Palestine,” and “Spain stands with Palestine.” Spain’s teenage superstar Lamine Yamal added to the symbolism. The Barcelona phenom previously went viral for waving a Palestinian flag during his club’s La Liga victory parade. Other Spanish players........

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