02.07.2026 16:20
At the FIFA 2026 World Cup, fans from many countries are showing support for Palestine. Several nations competing in the tournament are supporting Palestine and opposing genocide. Fans are marching with flags in key squares across the United States.
Fans of many countries competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, organized in partnership with the USA, Canada, and Mexico, are showing support for Palestine in stadiums and public squares.
PALESTINIAN SUPPORT AT THE WORLD CUP
Fans waving Palestinian flags in major US public squares during the cup matches are holding anti-genocide protests. Due to the genocide in Gaza, many countries participating in the World Cup have also supported the global fan call to "show Israel a red card." During the match where the Turkish National Football Team defeated the USA 3-2 in Group D, a Palestinian flag was waved behind the goal by Turkish fans throughout the game. The fan holding the Palestinian flag behind the goal was shown on screen multiple times.
GERMANY-PARAGUAY MATCH
A family attending the match between Germany and Paraguay in the round of 32 waved Palestinian flags. A Palestinian fan who also holds US citizenship told an AA reporter, "We are Palestinian US citizens. We are celebrating for Palestine throughout the World Cup. They will never stop us. Freedom for Palestine."
SUPPORT FROM MOROCCAN FANS
Fans of Morocco, which drew 1-1 with Brazil in their first Group C match, showed support for Palestine in New York squares before the game and in the stands during the match. Moroccan fans unfurled a Palestinian flag behind the goal at the New Jersey Stadium during the match. Before the game, Moroccan fans gathered at New York's famous Times Square, waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Freedom for Palestine."
Meanwhile, a person in the upper stands of the area where Moroccan fans were located tried to provoke by displaying an Israeli flag. Moroccan fans also showed their support for Palestine during their round of 32 match against the Netherlands.
BOSNIANS WHO SUFFERED GENOCIDE DID NOT FORGET PALESTINE
Fans waved Palestinian flags during the match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland in Los Angeles, USA. Bosniaks, who suffered genocide in the Serbian attack on Bosnia and Herzegovina, did not forget Palestine, which shares a similar fate. Bosnian fans also displayed a banner reading "Support for Palestine from Sarajevo."
SUPPORT FOR PALESTINE FROM A QATARI FAN WEARING A KEFFIYEH
A fan waved a Palestinian flag in the stands during the match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar. A Qatari fan with a painted face, wearing a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh, showed support for Palestine during the World Cup.
FRENCH AND BRAZILIAN FANS WAVE PALESTINIAN FLAG
French fans waved a Palestinian flag in the stadium during their group match where their country defeated Senegal 3-1. At the New Jersey Stadium, during the match between the 2018 champion and 2022 finalist France and Senegal, a French fan was seen waving a Palestinian flag before the game. Before Brazil's round of 32 match against Japan, the "Sambistas" fans marched collectively to the stadium. A fan in the group waved a Palestinian flag.
CALL FOR PALESTINE AND LEBANON WITH A "STATUE OF LIBERTY" COSTUME
A woman dressed in a "Statue of Liberty" costume near the Seattle Stadium, where the Egypt-Iran match was played, called for freedom for both countries with Palestinian and Lebanese flags. Palestinian flags were also unfurled in the stands during the Egypt-Iran match between the two Muslim countries.
COUNTRIES SUPPORTING PALESTINE AT THE WORLD CUP
Many countries supporting Palestine and opposing genocide participated in the World Cup. Alongside Turkey, European countries standing out for their open support of Palestine, such as Spain, Scotland, Bosnia and Herzegovina; African countries including Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Egypt; and Asian Iran took part in the tournament.
PALESTINE AND ISRAEL FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CUP
Palestine and Israel failed to pass the World Cup qualifiers and did not earn the right to compete in the tournament. Palestine, which competed in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, did not secure a spot in the tournament. Due to security concerns, Palestine had to play many of its home matches in the qualifiers at neutral venues. Israel, which faced intense pressure to be banned from international sports, could not participate in the tournament as it failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
"SHOW ISRAEL A RED CARD"
Many football clubs from various countries are supporting the fan call to "show Israel a red card" in world football. During the over two-year period of Israel's genocide, with Gaza also struggling with famine, more than 800 athletes, mostly footballers, were killed, and nearly 300 sports facilities were destroyed. While some countries and teams worldwide, including Turkey, call for Israel to be banned from all sports competitions, star athletes from many countries also react to Israel's genocide.