The FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain has taken an unexpected political turn off the pitch. UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has ignited a social media storm after sharing a controversial post on his official Instagram account regarding the two finalist nations.
Sharing his thoughts on the geopolitical undertones surrounding the championship match, the undefeated MMA fighter wrote that the final would be between “Israel-loving Argentina and Palestine-loving Spain”. He then added a message to his millions of followers: “I know who I’m supporting.”Â
Adding more fuel to the fire, Khabib followed up his initial comments by sharing a quote from Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona on his Instagram story. The post stated Maradona’s quote: “In my heart, I am Palestinian.” Khabib added his own caption by praising the late football legend: “One and only from Argentina.”
Why are Argentina labelled as ‘Israel-loving’?
This description of Argentina comes from the country’s recent, diplomatic and political shifts under its current leadership. Argentina’s government has strengthened its geopolitical ties with Israel. This alignment was highlighted when Argentina made official state visits to Jerusalem, declaring strong support for Israel’s defence actions and even announcing plans to move the Argentinian embassy to Jerusalem.Â
Also, during Argentina’s Round of 16 clash against Egypt, head coach Hossam Hassan waved a Palestinian flag to celebrate a victory;Â Argentina fans responded by waving an Israeli flag in the stands during the match.Â
Why are Spain labelled as ‘Palestine-loving’?
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Spain has established itself as one of the most vocal European defenders of Palestinian sovereignty.
The Spanish government generated headlines earlier by officially recognising the statehood of Palestine, a diplomatic move that angered Israeli officials but won praise across the Muslim world. Furthermore, Spanish political leaders have consistently criticised military escalations in Gaza and advocated for immediate humanitarian aid.
This pro-Palestinian sentiment is also mirrored within the Spanish squad itself, led by their teenage superstar Lamine Yamal. Just two months ago, Yamal caused a media sensation when he waved a Palestinian flag on the pitch during FC Barcelona’s open-top bus parade celebrating their La Liga title victory.Â
 Khabib’s stance on FIFA World Cup 2026 final
As a devout and influential Muslim figure, Khabib Nurmagomedov has never shied away from expressing his solidarity with the people of Palestine during the ongoing war. While he did not explicitly name Spain in his concluding sentence, his message made it clear to sports fans which team he will be rooting for on Sunday.
