Iran links Spain’s World Cup triumph to anger at US and Israel
Iranian officials praised Spain’s 1-0 win over Argentina, tying the result to Madrid’s positions on Gaza and the US-Israel war on Iran.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Iranian officials congratulated Spain after its World Cup final victory, framing the result as a moment of satisfaction for people who oppose the United States and Israel. The comments tied a football title to Spain’s recent political positions on Gaza and Iran, according to AFP.
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the final, and Iranian officials said the win resonated beyond Spanish supporters. AFP reported that the Spanish team appeared on social media to draw backing from people in different countries because of the Spanish government’s criticism of Israel’s war on Gaza and Madrid’s criticism of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, described by AFP as Iran’s top negotiator, said Spain’s victory had pleased more than its own fans. In remarks quoted by Iran’s state news agency IRNA on Monday, Ghalibaf said the Spanish players’ support for Palestinians and Spain’s backing of Iran showed “freedom and assertiveness” in what he called an “intelligent and respectful nation.”
Ghalibaf said the 1-0 result “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,” according to IRNA. His comments placed Spain’s football win inside a wider political reading of the tournament and its public reactions.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry also praised Spain before Ghalibaf’s remarks, according to AFP. Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the conduct of Spain’s national team and Spain’s broader stance in recent months against “aggression, genocide and oppression” had been “valuable.”
AFP reported that Spain’s government has condemned Israel’s war on Gaza and criticized the US-Israel war on Iran. Those positions, according to the report, helped turn Spain into a favored team among some critics of Washington and Israel during the tournament.
Argentina, by contrast, had support from Israeli politicians and football fans, AFP reported. The report linked that support to Argentine President Javier Milei, who has been a vocal backer of Israeli policies.
The political reaction followed scenes of celebration among Spain supporters after the final. AFP reported that Spain’s win gave the country its World Cup title after defeating Argentina, while Iranian officials emphasized the symbolic value they saw in the result.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.