Iran congratulated Spain on winning the 2026 World Cup, framing the football triumph as a moment of joy for people around the world who oppose the United States and Israel.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf praised the Spanish players for what he described as their defence of the Palestinian people and commended Spain for its broader support of Iran. His remarks went beyond sport, linking the squad's on-pitch success to geopolitical solidarity.
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei valued Spain's stance against aggression, genocide and oppression, saying the national team's conduct carried significance beyond the tournament. The comments, echoed across Swahili-language coverage, underscore Tehran's effort to cast Spain's sporting achievement as a political statement aligned with its own foreign policy positions.