The Spanish national football team – currently no.1 in the FIFA world rankings – could boycott the 2026 World Cup if Israel are allowed to compete – a bold political gesture, one that is a much-needed challenge to the moral double standards that have long plagued international sports.

The spokesperson for the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, Patxi Lopez, stated that they are considering removing their national team from next year’s World Cup, set to be hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In taking this stand, the reigning European champions are showing courage, consistency, and a willingness to put human rights and international law ahead of spectacle – and other nations should follow.

Israel are currently third in their World Cup qualifying group after five matches, level on points with Italy but having played one game more. There are three more games remaining and, while first place is out of the question due to Norway having a 100 per cent record, a second place finish would see them qualify for the playoff round.

Double standards from the governing bodies

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, international sporting bodies responded – many governments agreed – that it could no longer be business as usual. Russia was banned from FIFA, UEFA and the Olympics in many capacities. That was right. And yet, despite Israel’s relentless genocidal campaign against Palestine, they are still allowed to compete freely across the full spectrum of global sport.

Spain’s leaders are asking what many elsewhere are silently thinking: why is there one set of rules for Russia, and a different one for Israel? If we believe that sports cannot “wash clean” state violence, then consistency demands equal treatment.

Boycotts and threats of exclusion are always controversial, but they force institutions like FIFA, the IOC, UEFA, and others to reckon with whether their statutes on human rights, international law and non-discrimination are meaningful – or mere lip service.

When a country like Spain that is traditionally central in world football threatens withdrawal, that is a major signal. Sport depends on global cooperation; this kind of principled stance has financial, reputational, and political weight.

For too long, small protests have been dismissed as symbolic; Spain shows that symbolic action, backed by political will, can shift the Overton window—what is thinkable and what is tolerated in global sport.

DiEM25’s campaign to ban Israel from international sports

We support Spain’s threat. We believe that Israel should not be allowed to compete in international sports while allegations and evidence of war crimes, humanitarian law violations, displacement, and suffering continue unchecked. We believe sports bodies must follow the precedent set with Russia, and apply their own rules consistently.

If you agree, we urge you to sign and share our petition:

Let us make it clear: participation in international sports is not a neutral right when serious accusations of crimes against humanity are involved. Sporting bodies cannot remain islands separate from justice and law.

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