The spokesperson for the Spanish Socialist Party, Patxi López, has stirred significant controversy after confirming that Spain's participation in the 2026 World Cup could be threatened if the Israeli team qualifies for the tournament that will be held in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

In statements made during a press conference, López said: "We will evaluate the matter in due time," referring to the possibility of boycotting the World Cup if the Israeli team participates. These statements came after the decision of the Spanish RTVE organization to withdraw from the Eurovision 2024 festival if Israel participates, a move that reflects the Spanish government's and the Socialist Party's intentions to exert diplomatic pressure on Israel due to the situation in Gaza.

López emphasized that the Socialist Party seeks to implement a sports boycott similar to that imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, confirming that the request to exclude the Zionist entity from international competitions is under consideration and that international federations may take action in this regard.

This controversy arises despite the fact that the chances of the Zionist team qualifying for the World Cup seem weak, as they currently occupy third place in their group behind the leader Italy, which has a rich history in football and global tournaments.

The competition requires the Zionist entity to qualify in first place directly to ensure participation, while the second-placed team plays a playoff match with another European team.