THOUSANDS across the globe were captured celebrating Spain’s World Cup win last night, as La Roja became a symbol of solidarity with Palestine for fans worldwide.
Social media footage showed New York’s Times Square packed with supporters dressed in red and yellow, chanting ‘Free Palestine’ alongside the iconic ‘España, España.’
Another viral video captured celebrations in Indonesia, where cars and motorbikes formed a procession as they honked their horns and waved Spanish flags.
Images from Gaza showed hundreds of people celebrating Ferran Torres’ 106th-minute goal, cheering Spain’s decisive moment in the match.
Palestinian supporters have long viewed Spain as an ally, with prime minister Pedro Sanchez repeatedly calling for peace, recognition and a ‘hopeful’ future for Palestine.
Even beyond football, a series of decisions by Sanchez’s government have strengthened Spain’s image among supporters of the Palestinian cause.
In late 2025, Sanchez stood his ground against US President Donald Trump’s demands for Spain to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP.
READ MORE: Trump slams ‘terrible’ Spain and threatens to ‘make them pay double’ over NATO 5% of GDP snub
In March this year, the Spanish prime minister’s response following the US attack on Iran was also unequivocal, declaring in a public statement: “No to war”.
He added: “No to breaking international law, which protects us all – especially the most vulnerable: civilians.
Secondly, no to accepting that the world can only resolve its problems through conflict and bombs.
And finally, no to repeating the mistakes of the past.”
His position has been backed by widespread public mobilisation. Around 3,500 pro-Palestinian demonstrations were held across Spain in 2025, according to the Solidarity Network Against the Occupation of Palestine (RESCOP).
Support has also been expressed by figures within Spanish football, including 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, who was recently pictured waving a Palestinian flag on a bus in the streets of Barcelona.
The intense final on Sunday ended with a sombre scene for Argentina, as a tearful Lionel Messi appeared to bid farewell to the national team in what was expected to be his final World Cup appearance.
The stakes were particularly high after Argentina’s 2022 triumph, which secured the South American side their third World Cup title and raised hopes of becoming the first team in decades to win back-to-back tournaments.
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