Amidst the rubble in Gaza, and away from the spectacle of FIFA’s North American activities, a mock World Cup match was played on Thursday between soccer players who survived the “carnage” taking place in Palestine.It was a scene straight out of a Polanski war film.The green area, surrounded by a bustling city, was not the only witness to the first football match in Gaza since the Israeli-led offensive began in October 2023.While one group had the colors of the Palestinian nation, the other had a Spanish jersey – apparently in appreciation of Spain’s support and recognition of the Palestinian state. It has also highlighted the support La Rojas will receive from the embattled region as they face Argentina in the World Cup final on Monday.The Spanish flags flying alongside Palestine were also proof that although FIFA ordered the World Cup to be neutral, the reality was far from the rules written behind the closed doors of its headquarters in Zurich.It also does not help the cause of the international organization led by Gianni Infantino that the opponents at the MetLife Stadium on Monday will represent two countries on opposite sides of politics.Although the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez has become the loudest voice for Palestine, integration and leftist views in Europe, the political views of his Argentine counterpart can be summed up in him being one of the most supportive of the US President. Donald Trump.Prime Minister Javier Milei was quoted as saying that “the only thing left that works is Messi’s left foot”.He is an anarcho-capitalist, minarchist and libertarian conservative, who promotes humanism, is a supporter of Israel and is Benjamin Netanyahu like another known friend.That his sentiments could spread to the World Cup venue is evident in the racist comments some Argentina fans wrote about killing a black man in the US and throwing beer at Egyptian fans during Argentina’s 16th round match.There was an incident where some players of the team that won the 2022 World Cup sang a racist song on the team bus after winning in Qatar.It is an irony in history that the country that was ruled by the Spanish Empire – which dispossessed its people – now has the government of Milei in control while its colonists are standing on the left and promoting diversity and culture. And, that the finalists in Latin America are the only white team among the 48 countries at the World Cup where Spain will have players from other countries like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams working together with Spaniards like Pedri and Ferran Torres to bring the trophy home.It is also worth noting that the man who succeeded Maradona of the Che-tattoo sport as the greatest football player, remains a politician, seeing nothing of Trump. The reason, Lionel Messi it’s also a stark contrast to his teammate in the final, 19-year-old Yamal, who raised the Palestinian flag during Barcelona’s victory.And that’s exactly what the world will be looking at when the congressional debate begins in New Jersey.However, the 2026 edition – which is taking place against the backdrop of the US-Israel war on Iran – has been politically fraught.While the Iranian team had to move its base to Mexico due to US sanctions and was forced to run in and out of the States for his game, the African Referee of the Year, Somali Omar Artan, suffered from other sanctions that prevented him from entering his country to participate in the World Cup.So, when La Rojas takes part against the Albiceleste, the political situation will be behind him.And while the victory of Spain should see La Rojigualda shaking in the far reaches of Gaza, the victory of Argentina will not be another gift for Messi fans and it can make the biggest images of the right wing – Milei, Trump and Netanyahu, who has also shown that he supports Argentina – rejoice together.