Palestine did not need a team in the 2026 World Cup to be present in the spotlight. From the very first days of the tournament, held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the Palestinian cause emerged as one of the most visible topics in the public sphere surrounding the World Cup. It was seen through flags waving at public events, protests accompanying the matches, and chants of solidarity shared across social media platforms, transforming into a parallel narrative to the world’s biggest football event. As the eyes of billions of viewers turn to the pitch, fans and activists have seized…