Palestine solidarity takes center stage at 2026 World Cup

The Turkish National Football Team's 3-2 victory over the United States in the 2026 FIFA World Cup featured a Palestinian flag waved behind the goal throughout the match, part of a tournament-wide solidarity movement that has seen supporters from Morocco, Bosnia and Herzegovina and numerous other nations demand freedom for Gaza in stadiums across North America.

Turkish and German fans display banners

During the Crescent-Stars' final Group D fixture, the Palestinian flag appeared repeatedly on broadcast screens as the Turkish supporter waved it throughout the 90 minutes. In the Round of 32 clash between Germany and Paraguay, a family of three including a child waved Palestinian flags in the stands at the New York venue. A Palestinian fan holding US citizenship told Anadolu Agency: "We are Palestinian American citizens. We are celebrating for Palestine throughout the World Cup. They will never stop us. Free Palestine!"

Morocco and Bosnia lead regional solidarity

Moroccan supporters, who drew 1-1 with Brazil in their opening Group C match, gathered in New York's Times Square before the game waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Free Palestine!" before carrying the banner into the stands at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Fans of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who suffered genocide between 1991 and 1995, waved Palestinian flags during their match against Switzerland in Los Angeles and displayed a banner reading: "Support for Palestine from Sarajevo." During the Bosnia and Herzegovina-Qatar match, a Qatari fan wearing a traditional keffiyeh and face paint demonstrated his support for the Palestinian cause in the stands.

Support spans Europe, Americas and Middle East

French supporters waved a Palestinian flag before their Group I opener against Senegal at the New York New Jersey Stadium, while Brazilian fans carried the banner en masse before their Round of 32 clash with Japan in Seattle. Outside the stadium hosting the Egypt-Iran match, a woman dressed as the Statue of Liberty demanded "freedom" for Palestine and Lebanon while displaying both nations' flags. European nations including Spain and Scotland alongside African teams Algeria and Egypt have joined widespread calls to "show Israel red card" and ban the country from international sports competitions.

Neither Palestine nor Israel qualify for tournament

Neither Palestine nor Israel secured spots in the expanded 48-team tournament, with Palestine forced to play home qualifiers at neutral venues due to security concerns while Israel failed to advance through its qualification group. More than 1,000 athletes, the majority of them footballers, have been killed in Gaza during the ongoing conflict, according to local authorities, while nearly 300 sports facilities have been destroyed over the past two years. Football clubs and federations from numerous countries have backed demands to suspend Israel from all competitions as the genocide in the Gaza Strip continues.