By AFP

The article was published on 20 Jul 202620 Jul 2026.

The World Cup final thus became a stage for geopolitical allegiances.

Iran has congratulated Spain on its victory in the World Cup final, saying it has brought happiness to people around the world who oppose the United States and Israel.

The Spanish team's social media presence reflected broad international support, which many attributed to the Spanish government's condemnation of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza and its criticism of the US-Israel war on Iran.

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Conversely, Israeli politicians and fans backed Argentina, led by President Javier Milei, a strong advocate of Israeli policies.

“The players’ defence of the Palestinian people and the support of Spain for Iran … showed that freedom and assertiveness are characteristics of that intelligent and respectful nation,” Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Monday in remarks quoted by the state news agency IRNA.

He added that Spain’s 1-0 victory “not only made the hearts of the Spanish people happy but also the hearts of many free and independent and justice-loving nations of the world”.

Earlier, Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said: “The behaviour of the Spanish national team and Spain’s stance in general in recent months in opposing aggression, genocide and oppression was valuable.”

Iran's comments underscore how international sporting events can be politicized. This match highlighted the deep divide between nations that support Palestinian rights and those that align with Israel. The Spanish team's perceived stance may influence future diplomatic engagements in the sports arena.