The Blogs: Zionist’s Guide to the World Cup Group–E/F/G Previews

The much-reviled Group of Death will be revealed somewhere below.

Group E

Dear Reader(s), it is a testament to the shock of October 7th and the evident anti-Semitic bloodlust in Europe–as well as much of the rest of the world–that Germany has been moved into the Zionist’s Guide to the World Cup (ZGWC) positive category. Germany still has much to answer for; the burden and cunning of history remain staggering. Nothing is forgotten. Credit, though, where credit is due. During the Seven Front War, Germany has largely stood by Israel–certainly in contrast with most of its EU bretheren. At the G7 Conference in June 2025 at the height of the 12 Day War versus Iran, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated: “Israel is doing the dirty work for all of us. I can only express my utmost respect for the Israeli army and leadership for having the courage to do that.” That’s an admirable expression of moral clarity–a quality sorely lacking from even most American political figures. Now, it’s still Germany, though, and while they receive a positive rating, the ZGWC does not expect anyone to cheer with extra gusto for the Mannschaft. Generic gusto should suffice.

The ZGWC is going to go out on a limb here and predict that at least 90% of those attending Curacao’s World Cup matches would not be able to point out the island nation on a map. Curacao is a Dutch possession and, as such, lacks an independent foreign policy. The ZGWC is very down on the Netherlands for this edition of the World Cup, as will be discussed in a later post. However, the ZGWC will divorce Curacao from its mother country for an independent assessment. The Caribbean island was critical in the history of Jewish settlement in the Western Hemisphere. In the 1600s and 1700s, the island proved to be a safe haven for Jews still reeling from the expulsion from Spain two centuries earlier. Curacao had the first Jewish cemetery and some of the first synagogues in the New World. In the 1780s, about half of the white population of the island was Jewish. Curacao still boasts a Jewish community. If this history is not sufficient, then please consider the Blue Wave’s veteran forward Kenji Gorré, who plays professionally for Maccabi Haifa.

Cote d’Ivoire is an African country which has traditionally maintained solid relations with Israel. There are bilateral business ties, and Israel has supplied a number of weapons systems to Ivory Coast’s military. The current president, Alassane Ouattara, made an official visit to Israel in 2012. While no one would expect a Sub-Saharan African country will a large Muslim population to be in the top tier of countries worthy of the ZGWC’s endorsement, one could certainly do much worse than cheering for Les Éléphants.

Ecuador, for its part, maintains strong relations with Israel, among the strongest in Latin America. Particularly notable was the May 2025 visit to Jerusalem by Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, where he meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Herzog. During the visit, Ecuador opened an innovation center in Jerusalem, a move signaling growing cordial relations between the two states. La Tri fields a solid squad of footballers, and with some luck, might surprise in the knockout round. If so, the ZGWC will be cheering.

All in all, none of the countries of Group E elicit a negative rating from the ZGWC. That, in and of itself, is unique for this World Cup. Enjoy.

Group F

Group F is another of the World Cup’s mini Groups of Death. Consisting of the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia, the pickings are slim. At best, Japan will receive a pareve rating from the ZGWC. For the remainder, words like “disdain,” “indifference,” and “betrayal” come to mind.

Similar to countries like Australia, Canada, and Italy (which failed to qualify for this year’s edition), the Netherlands was a perennial ZGWC favorite in past World Cups. The Dutch have a vibrant history of tolerance of Jews, stretching back at least 500 years. However, the Netherlands after October 7th has proved itself to be one of the numerous Western European countries which–essentially–took the side of Hamas against the Jews. Here are some of the low lights…. In 2024, a Dutch court issued a ruling banning the government from providing parts to the Israeli Air Force’s fleet of F-35 fighter jets. Later that year, in November, a virtual pogrom took place in Amsterdam following a UEFA Europa tie between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax where Israeli fans were chased through the streets by anti-Semitic mobs. Several Maccabi fans ended up in the hospital, and others were lucky to escape with their lives. Naturally, the authorities attempted to blame the Jews for the riots. Further, the Netherlands saw fit to entirely boycott this year’s Eurovision Song Contest because of the inclusion of Israel. Given that 70% of the pre-war Dutch Jewish population was murdered in the Shoah, including one teenager named Anne Frank, one might think that the Dutch would exhibit a greater sense of shame and responsibility for their collective inability to shield their fellow citizens from the Nazis. Apparently, that is not the case.

The ZGWC has a pattern of endorsing the Blue Samurai of Japan in previous World Cups. The Japanese have no history of anti-Semitism. (It helps that no Jews lived there before the 20th Century.) Plus, the Japanese have gotten a lot of mileage out of the actions of Chiune Sugihara, the vice-consul in Lithuania, in saving many thousands of Jews from the Shoah. More recently, the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Israel twice in efforts to further bilateral relations. Current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has not given off any anti-Israel vibes since her election. On the other hand, Japan, like its neighbor South Korea, has not gone out of its way to be publicly supportive of Israel since October 7. Japan held a seat on the UN Security Council from 2023 to 2024, but took no effort to provide any diplomatic support for Israel. Japan condemned Israel’s actions in the 12 Day War against Iran. The Japanese have a pattern of being close Israel when it comes to discrete business and defense matters, but have been reluctant to ever champion Israeli interests in any public fashion or diplomatic forum. No doubt, the petroleum-poor Japanese seek to continually curry favor with the Muslim world in order to insure their consistent access to natural resources. Post October 7th, Japanese collective indifference to Israel’s fate will be reflected by the ZGWC in due measure. Consequently, apathy is the order of the day.

Sweden, most likely, looks down its nose at you. The Swedes are tall, blonde, wealthy, and emanate a smug sense of self-satisfaction to all who live south of this placid northern citadel. Sweden’s geography has enabled it to exempt itself from the travails of European history since the Great Northern War of 1700 to 1721. They managed to maintain neutrality from the Napoleonic Wars through the Cold War. In doing so, Sweden has achieved a level of moral pomposity matched by few other self-respecting nations. Naturally, a state of, for, and by the Jews that has to continually defend itself against bloodthirsty neighbors is a natural target for Swedish scolds and pearl-clutchers. In recent years, countries like Ireland, Spain, and Norway have been leaders in the field of public dislike for Israel. However, Sweden was the pioneer for these other miserable states, having established a thirty year pattern of anti-Israel grandstanding. Post October 7th, Sweden has largely continued this pattern, but not nearly to the extent that other EU members have. In reaction to overly permissive immigration policies and Vladimir Putin’s aggressions, Swedish attitudes may be evolving. Swedes may be arriving at a place where they need to defend their way of life from internal enemies and their national integrity from external enemies. This process may eventually redound to Israel’s benefit, but, alas, not soon enough for the 2026 World Cup.

In terms of the Arab world, there are worse, more close-minded countries than Tunisia. That being said, Tunisia has not joined the Abraham Accords and is not likely to do so anytime soon. In the absence of signing onto the Abraham Accords, Tunisia remains in an official state of war with Israel. The Tunisian population is strongly supportive of Palestinian nationalism, Hamas or otherwise, and the small Jewish community of Djerba, while tolerated, requires a heavy security presence to maintain its existence. If the Eagles of Carthage were, for example, matched up against the Iranians, the ZGWC would root for the former. However, that will not be the case in Group F competition, and Tunisia should be scorned in all of its group matches.

Group G

… And now Ladies and Gentlemen, the Group of Death for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is warming up before your viewing stand. Let’s welcome the Red Devils of Belgium, the Pharoahs of Egypt, Team Melli of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the All Whites of New Zealand. While some are worse than others, all are pretty bad. In fact, there are only two positive items to report with respect to Group G, as will be duly reported below. Wait for it.

Belgium is firmly in the camp of anti-Israel stalwarts in the European Union. Along with the likes of Spain, Ireland, and Norway, Belgium can be counted on to either lead or support any anti-Israel initiative or embargo. If Belgium-Israel bilateral relations were not bad enough, then consider Belgium’s treatment of its own Jewish population. In recent weeks, Belgium prosecutors indicted three mohels for performing brises. There is precedent for seeking to restrict the practice of Jewish religious life in Europe, and it does not end well–for the Jews, at least. Here’s to hoping that the 2026 World Cup does not end well for the post-Golden Generation Red Devils. Good riddance.

In discussing Tunisia and the Abraham Accords for Group F, the ZGWC noted that until Tunisia signs onto that agreement, there can be no cheering for that country. According to this line of reasoning, the ZGWC should be fully supportive of Egypt, given that it was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel. Unfortunately, the peace from the Egyptian perspective only applies to select precincts of the government and military. The bulk of the Egyptian populace and establishment remain in a pre-1979 state of hostility to Israel, and this hatred manifests itself in numerous ways. Take star Egyptian player Mohammad Salah, for instance. When his English club team, Liverpool, expressed interest in signing Israeli Arab forward Mu’nas Dabbur, Salah reportedly threatened the team management that he would never play with him. And that ire was directed at an Israeli Arab. Salah is the most public example of Egyptian anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment, but he is only the tip of the iceberg. The cold peace with Egypt will translate into the ZGWC’s thoroughly negative rating for this squad.

That brings us to the Iranians. No country rates lower than Iran in the estimation of the ZGWC. No surprise there. In fact, the ZGWC will not even waste the reader’s time in detailing why Iran is so bad. Please note (as was the case in the 2022 World Cup), if the individual members of Team Melli openly exhibit anti-regime attitudes and behaviors, whether on the field or not, then the ZGWC is prepared to turn on a dime to urge support for the team. If the actions of the Iranian players are such that they spark a general uprising amongst the Iranian people, well, you heard it here first. The ZGWC, though, is not overly optimistic in this regard.

And now, one of the two previously advertised bright spots of Group G competition. On June 26th, Egypt and Iran are scheduled to play their group match in Seattle. Coincidentally, this game is part of the annual Pride celebrations in honor of LGBTQIA2+–none of which are legal in either Egypt or Iran and most of which are likely subject to the death penalty in one or both. Couple this situation with the fact that the current mayor of Seattle, Katie Wilson, is a nepo baby, a socialist, a progressive, a supporter of Hamas, and, with respect to her putative boycott of Starbucks, a blithering idiot, and, well … mark June 26th on your calendar. Pass the popcorn.

Bringing up the rear in this parade of wretchedness is New Zealand. Similar to other countries which have luxury to exist far from any existential threat, New Zealand has proved itself judgmental and high handed in regard to Israel. Since October 7th, New Zealand has been in the camp of Israel’s international critics at nearly every turn. However, (and this is the other bright spot of Group G) New Zealand has not moved in lockstep with the anti-Israel actions of the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Australia. The current New Zealand government is conservative and has only signed onto most, but not all, of this camp’s initiatives. In September 2025, New Zealand did not support the UN report that described the situation in the Gaza Strip as genocide, and the government opted not to recognize Palestinian statehood during the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly. Consequently, two cheers for New Zealand.