The fallout from Argentina’s dramatic 2026 FIFA World Cup final defeat to Spain continues to intensify, with president Javier Milei launching a defiant social media response after an online petition calling for Argentina to be banned from future World Cups surpassed 23 million signatures.Spain claimed their second men’s World Cup title with a 1-0 extra-time victory at the New York New Jersey Stadium, where Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute after Luis de la Fuente’s side dominated proceedings and prevented Lionel Messi’s Argentina from registering a single shot in regular time.However, attention quickly shifted away from football after chaotic scenes broke out at the final whistle, prompting FIFA to open disciplinary proceedings into the conduct of several members of the Argentine delegation.
The petition has more than 28 million signatures
According to reports, the “Argentina out” The campaign was officially closed on July 19, 2026, immediately after the World Cup final, with exactly 23,316,108 verified signatures from supporters in around 170 countries. The petition narrowly missed the all-time Guinness World Record for the most signed online petition, falling just short of the record 24.3 million signatures.The campaign is asking FIFA to exclude Argentina from future World Cups, arguing that the team’s behavior during and after the finals has damaged the image of the sport and calling for stronger action to protect fair play.The petition was born after a match in which Argentina accumulated repeated fouls, midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off in stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card, and was involved in a nasty clash after Spain’s victory.
Spain’s Gavi, left, falls as he scuffles with Argentina’s Leandro Paredes (5) and Thiago Almada during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Leandro Paredes was seen grabbing Spain defender Eric García by the throat before clashing with Gavi, while Nahuel Molina appeared to throw a punch at Spain captain Rodri. FIFA has since launched an investigation into the incidents, with the players, coaching staff and Argentina Football Association potentially facing disciplinary sanctions.
Miley responds with defiant posts on social media
Rather than shy away from the growing controversy, Argentine president Javier Milei responded with a series of patriotic Instagram messages defending the national team and criticizing what he suggested was hostility towards Argentina.One of the posts shared by the Argentine leader reads:“Do you have enemies? It means that you once defended something. We defend Argentina.”In another post, Milei stated that Argentina’s global prominence was the reason for the criticism.“The problem with Argentina is that we stand out. We don’t go unnoticed, people are jealous of us, and we are good at almost everything.”He also shared an AI-generated image of himself ripping off his outfit to reveal an Argentinian shirt underneath, accompanied by the caption:“Long live Argentina, dammit!”The posts were widely circulated as the debate over Argentina’s behavior continued both at home and abroad.
The counter-petition requests the repetition of the World Cup final
The backlash also fueled a counter-campaign in Argentina.Thousands of supporters have signed a separate petition demanding that the World Cup final be returned, accusing the Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić of a biased performance in favor of Spain.The petition claims that the final was influenced by “controversial and corrupt” officials and asks FIFA to annul the result.However, no verified evidence has been presented to support the allegations, and there is nothing to indicate that FIFA or Vinčić acted improperly during the match.Argentina’s football association also sought to calm speculation surrounding replay demands, while AFA president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia urged supporters to accept Spain’s victory.
Paredes remains unapologetic FIFA investigation keep going
The controversy was exacerbated by the comments of midfielder Leandro Paredes, who came under intense scrutiny for his role in the post-match altercation.In a social media message posted after the final, Paredes expressed pride in Argentina’s campaign but stopped short of apologizing for his actions.“Thank you, Argentina! I love you today and always,” he wrote. “Today I write with a lot of pain in my heart because we could not give our country the joy it deserved, but with a chest full of pride for having given everything we had and put our flag back on top once more.”He added that it was “an honor to be part of the best Argentine team in history.”Alongside Paredes, Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada and assistant coach Roberto Ayala remain under FIFA investigation following the disturbances at MetLife Stadium.Meanwhile, criticism continued to grow beyond Argentina’s borders. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente recently described the scenes as “intolerable” and praised his players for keeping their composure throughout the match, while FIFA’s disciplinary process remains ongoing as the world football body reviews referee reports and video footage from the final.