Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in areas of Gaza marked by widespread destruction to celebrate the Spanish national team’s victory in the 2026 World Cup. The win, secured after a decisive goal against Argentina, marks the second time in history that Spain has claimed the tournament title. Despite the ongoing hardships faced in the enclave more than two years into the war, residents took to the streets to offer slogans of welcome and celebration for the Spanish team.
The sentiment was echoed back in Spain, where crowds participating in the national victory festivities displayed the Palestinian flag and chanted "Free Palestine." The connection between the Spanish team and the Palestinian cause has been a point of public note throughout the season. Lamine Yamal, a star player for the Spanish national team, famously raised the Palestinian flag during his club team Barcelona's celebrations for winning the local league title in the 2025–2026 season. While that gesture was met with widespread approval from Palestinians, it also drew criticism from Israeli observers directed toward the Spanish athlete.
