At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 23rd edition of the tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, fans are protesting Israel and showing support for Palestine. Israel's impunity on international platforms for war crimes targeting civilians and residential areas since October 7, 2023, remains a subject of debate.
The latest flashpoint in this debate is FIFA's decision not to ban Israel from international sports competitions. Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, independent sports and civil society representatives are staging protests at the tournament to press their demands, citing FIFA's failure to penalize or sanction Israel.
Although the Israeli national team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Israeli fans traveling to various matches to follow the tournament are facing backlash from citizens of other countries who support Palestine wherever they go.
In Toronto, Canada, one of the World Cup host cities, a group of activists unfurled a banner reading 'Expel Israel from FIFA' on one of the city's busiest main roads on June 12. In another incident, an Israeli fan attempted to display an Israeli flag during the Iran-New Zealand match on June 16, but the attempt was not permitted and drew the ire of other fans.
On June 27, in Miami, Florida, a Scottish fan told cameras, 'I was a nurse in Gaza. I saw what happened. There is a genocide,' expressing his reaction.
Before many matches at the tournament, fans from countries such as Bosnia, Egypt, and Iran gathered in front of stadiums and in crowded squares, chanting pro-Palestinian slogans. Palestinian flags were unfurled inside the stadiums.
In the latest incident, during the World Cup round of 32 match between the host United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which Bosnia lost 2-0, pro-Palestinian slogans were chanted, and Bosnian fans unfurled Palestinian flags, openly continuing their support for Palestine despite the defeat.
