Palestinians across the Gaza Strip celebrate Spain’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, expressing support for the Spanish national team and star winger Lamine Yamal while congratulating the new world champions.
Residents gathered at cafés and public viewing areas, as well as among streets scarred by war, to watch the final together.
For many displaced families, the screenings provided a rare opportunity to momentarily escape the hardships of daily life amid the ongoing Israeli aggression.
Many Palestinians said they supported Spain because of the country’s stance on Palestine, celebrating the victory with cheers, chants, and messages of congratulations.
“We support Spain because of its support for the Palestinian people,” Ahmed Al-Kahlout, a resident of Gaza City, told Quds News Network.
He added, “I was a staunch Messi fan. However, I’m now a fan of Spain and Lamine Yamal. I’ll never forget their pro-Palestine stance.”
Another Palestinian supporter delivered a message to Spain through Quds News Network, saying, “We love you from Palestine. We appreciate your stand.”
Spain secured its second FIFA World Cup title after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in extra time, adding to its 2010 triumph. Argentina, which lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022, fell short of retaining the title.
Hamas, the Gaza-based resistance movement, also congratulated Spain on its World Cup victory.
“A thousand congratulations to Spain on the deserved World Cup football victory,” said Basem Naim, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau and former health minister in Gaza.
He added, “Congratulations to Palestine and its supporters on their joy. If the only thing the win achieved was to spoil things for the Zionists and their stooges, that would suffice.”
Spain has been one of Europe’s most vocal critics of Israel’s military aggression in Gaza. In 2024, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recognized the State of Palestine and announced an arms embargo on Israel.
