- The European team is taking action if Israel qualifies for the competition scheduled in the USA, Canada, and Mexico
- A United Nations inquiry has pointed out that the Asian country was involved in four out of five genocidal acts in Gaza
- Euro 2024 winners Spain could be set to join the small list of nations that have boycotted a World Cup
Spain could become the latest nation to boycott a World Cup if they follow through on threats to withdraw from the 2026 edition.
The tournament, football’s biggest global stage, returns next summer in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the first time it will be jointly hosted by three nations.
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Reigning European champions Spain are among the bookmakers’ early favourites and have started qualifying strongly with back-to-back wins.
So far, just 18 of the 48 teams set to compete have secured their places, with the rest to be decided over the coming months.
Yet one of the biggest names in world football, Euro 2024 winners Spain — may not feature at all, having warned they will boycott if FIFA permits Israel to take part.
If Spain were to carry out their threat, it would mark the first World Cup boycott in decades. But which countries have taken such a drastic step before, and what drove them to do it?
Countries that boycotted the World Cup
One of the earliest and most memorable boycotts came in 1934, when Uruguay, the very first World Cup winners, refused to defend their crown in Italy.
Their decision was in protest at the lack of European nations willing to travel for the inaugural tournament in Montevideo in 1930.
To this day, Uruguay remain the only champions who have not defended their title at the following World Cup.
That same year, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland also opted out, insisting their Home Championship was superior to FIFA’s competition.
Four years later, Uruguay maintained their boycott in 1938, this time joined by fellow 1930 finalists Argentina.
The Argentine federation had expected to host the tournament, believing FIFA would alternate World Cups between South America and Europe.
Instead, France was awarded the finals, a decision that sparked fury in Buenos Aires and led both Argentina and Uruguay to withdraw in protest.
Thankfully, after the drama of 1938, no major boycotts occurred until 1950 in Brazil. For that tournament, Asia was allocated one qualifying spot, contested by India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Burma.
When the latter three withdrew, India automatically qualified. Yet they too pulled out before the finals.
A long-standing myth claimed FIFA banned them from playing barefoot, as they had done at the 1948 Olympics in London.
But reports in the Los Angeles Times suggested the real reason was more straightforward: Indian officials simply didn’t view the World Cup as important enough at the time.
Scotland also missed the 1950 finals after their FA insisted the team would only participate if they won the Home Championship outright, which they failed to do.
Turkey, meanwhile, withdrew over the financial burden of sending a squad across the Atlantic.
Another dramatic withdrawal came in 1974. The USSR, fresh from an era defined by legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin, reached a play-off against Chile after finishing as runners-up in European qualifying.
The first leg in Moscow ended goalless, but the second leg in Santiago became mired in politics after General Pinochet’s violent coup.
The Soviets demanded the venue be changed, but FIFA refused. The USSR declined to travel, and Chile advanced after their players kicked off against an empty opposition, passing the ball into an unguarded net before the referee blew the final whistle.
There have also been several occasions where nations pulled out collectively during qualifying.
The most striking example came in 1966, when every African country withdrew in protest at the continent’s lack of direct representation, making England the only hosts in World Cup history to see an entire continent boycott their tournament.
FIFA could ban India from international football
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that FIFA could soon hand out another major punishment in international football, with India facing a ban following the governing body’s stance on Russia.
While the European country remains barred from official tournaments, they are still permitted to play international friendly matches.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
