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The 2026 FIFA World Cup has become a visible platform for expressions of solidarity with Palestinians, despite the absence of the Palestinian national team from the tournament, according to an opinion article by American writer David Vine.
Writing for Foreign Policy in Focus on 14th July 2026, Vine argued that the tournament has witnessed widespread public displays of support for Palestinians amid the continuing war in Gaza and increasing restrictions on pro-Palestinian demonstrations in some countries.
According to the article, fans, players, and coaches from numerous countries—including Egypt, Scotland, Brazil, South Korea, Morocco, Mexico, Türkiye, Norway, Senegal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Algeria, and Spain—publicly expressed support for Palestinians and called for their rights to life, freedom, and return.
READ: Palestine solidarity takes center stage throughout 2026 FIFA World Cup
The article states that demonstrations of solidarity extended beyond individual statements. Palestinian flags were displayed in stadiums, some players and coaches were seen carrying them, and chants of “Free Palestine” were heard both inside stadiums and in surrounding public areas.
Vine also noted that many spectators wore jerseys of the Palestinian national football team during matches.
According to the article, some fans displayed banners reading “Expel Israel from FIFA” and “Red Card for Israel,” referring to the football sanction used to send a player off the field for a serious offense.
The article reflects the author’s analysis and observations of fan activity during the tournament. FIFA has not issued a statement in connection with the reported displays described in the article.
READ: Norway uses influence in football to push for Israel’s suspension from FIFA
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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