FIFA has suspended Leandro Paredes for 10 matches following his involvement in a post-final brawl that marred the aftermath of a major tournament final. The disciplinary action underscores FIFA's tough stance on misconduct and violence after matches. The lengthy ban is expected to impact both club and international commitments, while the incident has reignited debate over player behaviour, on-field tensions and disciplinary standards in elite football.


Leandro Paredes handed 10-match ban for post-final brawl

Thousands of Argentines marched toward the Ministry of Economy in Buenos Aires on August 20, 2026, protesting surging household debt and living costs. President Javier Milei's strict austerity has lowered inflation, but left roughly 5.8 million citizens over 90 days behind on loan payments amid stagnant wages and slashed subsidies.


Buenos Aires protests grow as household debt crisis deepens

Argentina football star Lionel Messi, after the recent death of his father, has hinted at the end of his career as well. Messi's father, Jorge, was a constant presence throughout his careeer including from the early days of Barcelona. The FIFA World Cup 2026 was the first event where Messi was without his father. The footballer, after scoring the opening goal of his hat-trick in the first match against Algeria, was ery emotional which he later described as "matter other than football."<h2>Is Messi retiring from football?</h2>The Argentina star has 207 caps for the national side since making his debut in 2005. He also led the team to World Cup glory in 2022 like Diego Maradona but failed like him in the final whil going for back-to-back titles. Messi, 39, wrote a long post on Instagram on Wednesday (Aug 12), and said that "he's not sure about continuing anymore."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/my-childhood-dream-nfl-star-travis-kelce-opens-up-on-wedding-with-popstar-taylor-swift-1786589344969">'My childhood dream': NFL star Travis Kelce opens up on wedding with popstar Taylor Swift</a>"I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how ​to move forward. I only played football and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I’m going to keep doing it for much longer.“You were by my side from the beginning; there was so little left until the end. Why couldn’t you hold on just a little longer so we could finish it together? You always asked me to play in the last World Cup and a few days before it started was when you got worse," he wrote."It was the first time you weren’t going to be at a tournament … Every time a match ended, I would ‌wait and hope for your message. That’s when I realised how real the situation was. My legs couldn’t go on any more. This time I tried to push myself beyond my ​physical limits, but I couldn’t. ​I never felt well … We weren’t champions, ​but you don’t know how much we enjoyed every match. Once again, you were ​right: I had to ‌be there and play ​it," added the Argentina star.<h2>What happened to Messi's father Jorge?</h2>Jorge passed away last week in Rosario, Argentina after a long illness. Messi was in the USA with Inter Miami of Major League Soccer (MLS) after the FIFA World Cup and rushed to his home country after the tragic incident.&nbsp;

Grieving the loss of his father Jorge, Lionel Messi has hinted at retirement. Following a tough 2026 World Cup campaign, the 39-year-old admitted on Instagram he doubts he can keep playing.

Argentina football star Lionel Messi, after the recent death of his father, has hinted at the end of his career as well. Messi's father, Jorge, was a constant presence throughout his careeer including from the early days of Barcelona. The FIFA World Cup 2026 was the first event where Messi was without his father. The footballer, after scoring the opening goal of his hat-trick in the first match against Algeria, was ery emotional which he later described as "matter other than football." Is Messi retiring from football? The Argentina star has 207 caps for the national side since making his debut in 2005. He also led the team to World Cup glory in 2022 like Diego Maradona but failed like him in the final whil going for back-to-back titles. Messi, 39, wrote a long post on Instagram on Wednesday (Aug 12), and said that "he's not sure about continuing anymore." Also Read - 'My childhood dream': NFL star Travis Kelce opens up on wedding with popstar Taylor Swift "I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how to move forward. I only played football and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I’m going to keep doing it for much longer. “You were by my side from the beginning; there was so little left until the end. Why couldn’t you hold on just a little longer so we could finish it together? You always asked me to play in the last World Cup and a few days before it started was when you got worse," he wrote. "It was the first time you weren’t going to be at a tournament … Every time a match ended, I would ‌wait and hope for your message. That’s when I realised how real the situation was. My legs couldn’t go on any more. This time I tried to push myself beyond my physical limits, but I couldn’t. I never felt well … We weren’t champions, but you don’t know how much we enjoyed every match. Once again, you were right: I had to ‌be there and play it," added the Argentina star. What happened to Messi's father Jorge? Jorge passed away last week in Rosario, Argentina after a long illness. Messi was in the USA with Inter Miami of Major League Soccer (MLS) after the FIFA World Cup and rushed to his home country after the tragic incident.

Grieving the loss of his father Jorge, Lionel Messi has hinted at retirement. Following a tough 2026 World Cup campaign, the 39-year-old admitted on Instagram he doubts he can keep playing.

Lionel Messi to retire? Argentina footballer doesn't 'know how to move forward' after death of his father

Argentina’s Football Association (AFA) has unanimously approved Jul 15 as ‘National Football Teams Day’ to mark the national team’s dramatic win over England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final. Argentina made a stunning comeback to beat England 2-1 and reach the WC final for the second consecutive edition after scoring twice from the 85th minute onwards to overturn an early deficit.&nbsp;“The date was chosen to commemorate the Albiceleste’s great and historic victory over England in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup,” AFA said in a statement following Wednesday’s council executive meeting, according to ESPN.&nbsp;“The team, led by Lionel Scaloni, were trailing the English side by a single goal but, thanks to goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, managed to turn the result around and send the whole country into a frenzy, with people flooding the streets in celebration.”<h2>Falkland Islands controversy</h2>The victory had significance beyond football because of the long-standing dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, known as the Islas Malvinas in Argentina.&nbsp;The islands are located about 300 miles from mainland Argentina and nearly 8,000 miles from Great Britain. The dispute over their ownership remains a sensitive political issue in both the countries.&nbsp;After Argentina’s semi-final win, the players celebrated on the field with a banner that read, “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, meaning “The Malvinas are Argentinian”.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/salah-signs-two-year-deal-with-trabzonspor-after-liverpool-exit-1786023130888">Salah signs two-year deal with Trabzonspor after Liverpool exit</a>&nbsp;The message drew an immediate response in England and across the UK and the British government later asked FIFA to investigate the incident, turning the celebrations into a disciplinary matter.&nbsp;Argentina went on to reach the final but failed to defend their World Cup title after losing to Spain. The final also ended in heated scenes, with players from both teams involved in clashes after the match.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-to-india-as-shubman-gill-suffers-thumb-injury-ahead-of-sri-lanka-test-opener-1786014074820">Big blow to India as Shubman Gill suffers thumb injury ahead of SL Test opener</a>&nbsp;FIFA later opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina players Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina, as well as assistant coach Roberto Ayala, over alleged physical assaults.&nbsp;The AFA also came under criticism for several other issues, as FIFA investigated the political references made during the semi-final celebrations, while separate allegations of racist abuse and inappropriate chanting were also looked into.&nbsp;Argentina’s political leadership defended the players’ decision to display the Falklands message.&nbsp;President Javier Milei described the celebration as “perfectly valid” and said it reflected a sentiment shared by many Argentinians. However, Milei also accepted that FIFA could take action over the incident and said that he expected the governing body to issue a financial penalty against Argentina.

The AFA has declared Jul 15 as National Football Teams Day to commemorate Argentina's dramatic World Cup semi-final victory over England, where they overturned a 1-0 deficit to reach the final, though the celebrations later faced controversy.

Argentina’s Football Association (AFA) has unanimously approved Jul 15 as ‘National Football Teams Day’ to mark the national team’s dramatic win over England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final. Argentina made a stunning comeback to beat England 2-1 and reach the WC final for the second consecutive edition after scoring twice from the 85th minute onwards to overturn an early deficit. “The date was chosen to commemorate the Albiceleste’s great and historic victory over England in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup,” AFA said in a statement following Wednesday’s council executive meeting, according to ESPN. “The team, led by Lionel Scaloni, were trailing the English side by a single goal but, thanks to goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, managed to turn the result around and send the whole country into a frenzy, with people flooding the streets in celebration.” Falkland Islands controversy The victory had significance beyond football because of the long-standing dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, known as the Islas Malvinas in Argentina. The islands are located about 300 miles from mainland Argentina and nearly 8,000 miles from Great Britain. The dispute over their ownership remains a sensitive political issue in both the countries. After Argentina’s semi-final win, the players celebrated on the field with a banner that read, “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, meaning “The Malvinas are Argentinian”. Also Read - Salah signs two-year deal with Trabzonspor after Liverpool exit The message drew an immediate response in England and across the UK and the British government later asked FIFA to investigate the incident, turning the celebrations into a disciplinary matter. Argentina went on to reach the final but failed to defend their World Cup title after losing to Spain. The final also ended in heated scenes, with players from both teams involved in clashes after the match. Also Read - Big blow to India as Shubman Gill suffers thumb injury ahead of SL Test opener FIFA later opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina players Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina, as well as assistant coach Roberto Ayala, over alleged physical assaults. The AFA also came under criticism for several other issues, as FIFA investigated the political references made during the semi-final celebrations, while separate allegations of racist abuse and inappropriate chanting were also looked into. Argentina’s political leadership defended the players’ decision to display the Falklands message. President Javier Milei described the celebration as “perfectly valid” and said it reflected a sentiment shared by many Argentinians. However, Milei also accepted that FIFA could take action over the incident and said that he expected the governing body to issue a financial penalty against Argentina.

The AFA has declared Jul 15 as National Football Teams Day to commemorate Argentina's dramatic World Cup semi-final victory over England, where they overturned a 1-0 deficit to reach the final, though the celebrations later faced controversy.

Argentina to celebrate World Cup semi-final triumph over England with special day

FIFA is reportedly evaluating a major expansion of the Men's FIFA World Cup, increasing the tournament from 48 teams to 64 teams for the 2030 edition. The proposal has already sparked widespread debate across the global football community.

According to reports, FIFA has launched a fast-track consultation and commissioned an impact assessment covering tournament revenue, sponsorship, broadcasting rights, ticket sales, player welfare, scheduling, and the international football calendar.

The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be primarily hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with centenary opening matches scheduled in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Expanding to 64 teams could allow South American host nations to stage full group-stage matches instead of only ceremonial opening fixtures.

FIFA Plans 64-Team World Cup By 2030? |Expansion Proposal Sparks Global Backlash & Governance Debate

Spain were crowned champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic 1-0 victory over defending champions Argentina. In a tense final at the New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026, substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute of extra time, securing Spain's second World Cup title.


FIFA world cup 2026: Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the world cup final


The FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race will be decided in the final as Kylian Mbappé leads the scoring charts after his brace against England in the third-place playoff. Lionel Messi now faces a daunting challenge, needing at least two goals against Spain to draw level and potentially win the Golden Boot on assists. The final could also reshape the all-time World Cup scoring record.

Mbappé one step away from historic Golden Boot record | Messi faces must-win scoring challenge

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly declared his support for Argentina ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final against Spain. During a meeting with Argentina's ambassador to Israel, Netanyahu received an official Argentina football jersey along with a message from Argentine President Javier Milei reaffirming his support for the national team. Netanyahu praised Milei for strengthening relations between Israel and Argentina, calling the South American nation one of Israel's closest friends. His endorsement adds a political dimension to the highly anticipated World Cup final, where Lionel Messi will lead Argentina in pursuit of another historic title.

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu supports Argentina before the FIFA World Cup final against Spain

Argentine President Javier Milei has confirmed he will not attend the FIFA World Cup final, citing superstition as Argentina prepares to face Spain. A close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, Milei said he will watch the match from home as the reigning champions chase a second consecutive World Cup title against the 2010 champions.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina's Milei to skip world cup final, cites superstition

Bayern Munich's remarkable 44-year streak of having at least one player in every FIFA World Cup final has officially ended after Harry Kane's England and Michael Olise's France were eliminated. Meanwhile, Inter Milan continues its historic run with at least one representative set to feature in a 12th consecutive World Cup final, thanks to Argentina's Lautaro Martínez.


Bayern Munich's 44-year FIFA World Cup final streak ends as inter milan keeps historic run alive

A remarkable chapter in FIFA World Cup history has come to an end as Bayern Munich will have no player in the World Cup final for the first time since 1982. The club's extraordinary 44-year streak, spanning 11 consecutive World Cups, ended after England and Bayern striker Harry Kane were eliminated from the tournament. Meanwhile, Inter Milan continues its impressive record, extending its run of having at least one player feature in the World Cup final for a 12th straight tournament. The historic milestone highlights the lasting influence of Europe's biggest clubs on football's greatest stage.

Bayern Munich's 44-year FIFA World Cup final streak ends | Inter Milan extends historic record

England's outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants an investigation in Argentina players waving 'Falkland Island' banner after the semi-final against England on Wednesday (Jul 15) in the FIFA World Cup 2026. He also assereted that the dispuated islands remain under their control despite the Argentine claims. Argentina had defeated England 2-1 in the semis to enter their second consecutive FIFA final where they meet Spain in the last match to defend their title won in 2022 by beating France in the final on penalties.<h2>England PM Starmer wants FIFA action vs Argentina for displaying Falkand banner</h2>Starmer watched the match while travelling to Ukraine on his final overseas trip while in office and was not happy with how Argentina players waved "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" tranlating to "The Falklands are Argentine," in reference to the 74-day war between the two countries over the control of Falkland Islands in 1982.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Live on Zee5

Speaking about the PM's reaction on the banner, his spokesperson said: "The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our position is unchanged. Self-determination rests with the islanders and our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lamine-yamal-injury-scare-before-fifa-world-cup-final-spain-issues-big-fitness-update-ahead-of-argentina-clash-1784241108111">Lamine Yamal injury scare before FIFA World Cup final? Spain issues big fitness update ahead of Argentina clash</a>"More broadly, potential action is a matter for FIFA, but it’s been a fantastic World Cup and we’ve said throughout that politics should stay out of football."After the match, UK business secretary Peter Kyle had told BBC that banner was "an egregious violation of the rules of not having political activity as part of the football."<h2>How did FIFA respond to it?</h2>FIFA had earlier reprimanded Argentina in 2014 for displaying a similar banner against Slovenia. After the recent incident, a statement from the apex body read: "As is standard procedure, FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the FIFA disciplinary code."<h2>Where to watch and live stream Spain vs Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 final?</h2>Argentina vs Spain final in FIFA World Cup 2026 will be aired LIVE across WION's sister company Zee5 app and website. (link: https://www.zee5.com/)

Starmer watched the match while travelling to Ukraine on his final overseas trip while in office and was not happy with how Argentina players waved "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" tranlating to "The Falklands are Argentine."

England's outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants an investigation in Argentina players waving 'Falkland Island' banner after the semi-final against England on Wednesday (Jul 15) in the FIFA World Cup 2026. He also assereted that the dispuated islands remain under their control despite the Argentine claims. Argentina had defeated England 2-1 in the semis to enter their second consecutive FIFA final where they meet Spain in the last match to defend their title won in 2022 by beating France in the final on penalties. England PM Starmer wants FIFA action vs Argentina for displaying Falkand banner Starmer watched the match while travelling to Ukraine on his final overseas trip while in office and was not happy with how Argentina players waved "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" tranlating to "The Falklands are Argentine," in reference to the 74-day war between the two countries over the control of Falkland Islands in 1982.

Starmer watched the match while travelling to Ukraine on his final overseas trip while in office and was not happy with how Argentina players waved "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" tranlating to "The Falklands are Argentine."

FIFA 2026 | Outgoing UK PM Starmer wants FIFA to act against Argentina players displaying 'Falkland' banner

Argentina seems to have become controversy's favourite child at the FIFA World Cup. Just when one thought the Argentina vs England semi-final couldn't get any spicier after a close 2-1 contest that eventually broke English hearts, the rivalry spilt beyond the touchline. Adding a fresh layer of controversy, Messi and Co held a banner that read 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas' - which translates to 'The Falklands are Argentine'. It reignited a decades-old political wound right in the middle of football's biggest stage.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina could face disciplinary action from FIFA 

Lionel Messi and the Argentina national football team returned to their team hotel after securing a thrilling 2-1 victory over England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal. The reigning world champions booked their place in a second consecutive World Cup final with a memorable comeback victory, sparking celebrations among fans in Buenos Aires and around the world. Argentina, led by head coach Lionel Scaloni and captain Lionel Messi, will now face Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. The highly anticipated clash will be the first World Cup final between the South American champions and the European champions.

Lionel Messi and Argentina return to the team hotel after 2-1 win over England

Argentina are through to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final after a dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the semifinal. Fans across Buenos Aires erupted in celebration as the final whistle confirmed the reigning world champions had secured a second consecutive World Cup final appearance. Lionel Scaloni's side will now face Spain in the World Cup Final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. The final will mark the first-ever World Cup final between the South American champions and the European champions.

Watch: Buenos Aires erupts as Argentina reach World Cup final

Declan rice is set to feature in midfield for England against Argentina in the semi-final after recovering from a stomach bug.

FIFA world cup 2026: Declan Rice set to feature in England's semi-final against Argentina

When Argentina arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they carried more than just the weight of defending their title. As the champions of Qatar 2022, Lionel Messi and his teammates were widely tipped to go deep once again. But while their football has kept them among the tournament favourites, another narrative has grown just as quickly, one that has little to do with tactics or goals. It is no longer just about Argentina winning matches. It is about whether the rest of the football world believes those victories are entirely fair.&nbsp;Almost every Argentina fixture has ended with social media flooded by the same accusations. Clips are replayed endlessly. Slow-motion replays dominate timelines. Fans, former players and television pundits dissect refereeing decisions frame by frame. Hashtags questioning FIFA, VAR and officiating trends repeatedly trend worldwide. The debate started almost immediately.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/var-bias-for-messi-s-argentina-shocking-world-cup-2026-data-sparks-fresh-debate-1783977652104">VAR bias for Messi's Argentina? Shocking World Cup 2026 data sparks fresh debate</a>

France vs Spain

Many supporters of rival teams argued that Lionel Messi was fortunate not to receive a red card in Argentina's opening match after an incident that sparked fierce disagreement online. While match officials judged the challenge differently, critics believed Argentina had already benefited from a significant decision. Instead of calming down, the controversy only intensified.&nbsp;Throughout the tournament, opponents have repeatedly questioned officiating decisions involving Argentina. Supporters of rival countries have argued that fouls deserving yellow or red cards went unpunished, while others have pointed to penalty appeals and VAR interventions that, in their view, consistently favoured the defending champions.&nbsp;Whether those claims are justified or not has become almost secondary. The perception itself has become the story. The match against Egypt reignited the debate, with several refereeing moments dominating post-match discussion more than the football itself. Days later, Argentina's encounter with Switzerland created another storm. Social media exploded with accusations after contentious decisions, including debates over disallowed goals and challenges that many fans believed deserved a different outcome. Each incident added another chapter to an already growing narrative.&nbsp;For many supporters outside Argentina, every close refereeing call now reinforces an existing belief that the defending champions are receiving favourable treatment. For Argentina's fans, however, the criticism reflects confirmation bias, where every decision involving Messi's side is automatically viewed through a lens of suspicion simply because of their success. History shows that football's biggest teams often become lightning rods for conspiracy theories.&nbsp;The presence of Lionel Messi only amplifies the scrutiny. Every tournament involving arguably football's greatest player attracts unparalleled global attention. Every refereeing decision involving him is magnified, analysed repeatedly and shared with millions within minutes. In the age of VAR and social media, controversies no longer disappear after the final whistle. They live forever online. Every freeze frame becomes evidence for one side. Every replay becomes ammunition for the other. That has made the debate surrounding Argentina unlike almost anything seen at previous World Cups.&nbsp;Whether FIFA has actually favoured Argentina remains unproven. Football's governing body has consistently defended its refereeing standards, and contentious officiating decisions occur in matches involving many teams throughout every major tournament. Yet perception often shapes public opinion as much as reality. Right now, a significant section of the football community believes Argentina are benefiting from key moments, while another believes the defending champions are simply paying the price for being successful, and for having Lionel Messi wearing their colours.&nbsp;As Argentina continue their pursuit of back-to-back World Cup titles, one thing is certain. Every tackle. Every VAR review. Every penalty appeal. Every offside decision. Will be examined far more intensely than those involving almost any other team. Whether Argentina eventually lift the trophy again or fall short, the debate over officiating may ultimately become one of the defining stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup itself.

Argentina's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign has sparked fierce debate over controversial refereeing decisions, VAR interventions and allegations of preferential treatment. Here's why the defending champions remain at the centre of football's biggest talking point

When Argentina arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they carried more than just the weight of defending their title. As the champions of Qatar 2022, Lionel Messi and his teammates were widely tipped to go deep once again. But while their football has kept them among the tournament favourites, another narrative has grown just as quickly, one that has little to do with tactics or goals. It is no longer just about Argentina winning matches. It is about whether the rest of the football world believes those victories are entirely fair. Almost every Argentina fixture has ended with social media flooded by the same accusations. Clips are replayed endlessly. Slow-motion replays dominate timelines. Fans, former players and television pundits dissect refereeing decisions frame by frame. Hashtags questioning FIFA, VAR and officiating trends repeatedly trend worldwide. The debate started almost immediately. Also Read: VAR bias for Messi's Argentina? Shocking World Cup 2026 data sparks fresh debate

Argentina's FIFA World Cup campaign has been overshadowed by repeated refereeing controversies, with social media increasingly debating whether the champions are receiving favourable decisions

The World vs Argentina? Why every decision is fueling the biggest debate of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Argentina's remarkable football achievements often overshadow and sometimes highlight the racism problem that festers within the society. A group of Football fans at the 2026 FIFA World Cup were<a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/E20Qzfg_q3s?si=z1dhLEGPKNxFpyh2"> heard chanting</a>-&nbsp;“QUE VENGAN LOS FRANCESES CON EL DOCUMENTO, QUE JUEGUEN PARA ANGOLA SI LE DAN LOS HUEVOS”- which loosely translates to “Let the Frenchmen come with their ID/document, let them play for Angola if they've got the b*lls.”These chants were not new; these derogatory chants targeting the African heritage of the squad members of the French National like Kylian Mbappé, were heard in the 2022 World Cup Final between France and Argentina, and then it was echoed by the Argentine Football team following their 2024 Copa América victory. Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández was seen broadcasting a live stream on Instagram with the squad members chanting that song. Though he later apologised publicly. During the Argentina-Egypt fixtures of the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, content creator and streamer IShowSpeed was subjected to a racist slur by Argentine fans, telling him to “go home”, even though he was a US citizen.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">here is a video of the Argentina National team, led by Enzo Fernandez chanting incredibly racist and anti-immigrant words targeted at the France football team, which has many black players <a href="https://t.co/TBKtI9QFJ1">pic.twitter.com/TBKtI9QFJ1</a>&mdash; 🐾 (@elsdawg) <a href="https://x.com/elsdawg/status/2074554301125468483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Pattern of Racial abuses</h2>Labelling French national players of African descent as not truly French because their skin colour is not an isolated event or World Cup phenomenon. Brazilians have also faced targeted racial slurs, specifically being called "monkeys" by Argentina fans.In fact, Argentine midfielder Gianluca Prestianni was accused of racially abusing Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior during a highly charged UEFA Champions League match. The incident occurred in February 2026, during a first-leg clash between Real Madrid and Benfica at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. He denied the allegations, but was suspended for one match.&nbsp;A Paraguayan Senator, Celeste Amarilla, went on a racist tirade, calling French captain Kylian Mbappé a “colonised Cameroonian pretending hard to be French”, She also made dehumanising statements like instead of breast milk, he had “sucked coconuts” and most "educated" sounds the French captain had ever heard were from “chimpanzees.”These incidents show that these behaviours are deeply systemic and not isolated to Argentina only. Argentina epitomises this colourism and colonial bias, which persists across Latin American football and society.&nbsp;<h2>The "white myth" of Argentina</h2>Argentina's relationship with race faces intense scrutiny because it is tangled up with a national myth. The idea is that the country is "white" is built on European immigration. Argentina was a European colony for nearly three centuries, primarily ruled by the Spanish Empire. It overlooks and does not acknowledge the Afro-descendant and Indigenous populations. In 1778, the Buenos Aires census showed 37 per cent of the city was Afro-descendant, and in fact, almost all the cities had more than one-third Afro-descendant.&nbsp;That population was decimated by war, disease and later, by immigration policy explicitly designed to "whiten" the country by recruiting millions of Europeans. Black soldiers were disproportionately sent to the front lines in brutal conflicts like the &nbsp;Argentine War of Independence and the Paraguayan War, or the War of the Triple Alliance.In 1871, a severe yellow fever outbreak, along with cholera epidemics, swept through Buenos Aires, while White Argentinians escaped, the relatively impoverished Afro-Argentinians were left in the cramped tenements of the city to die.&nbsp;Indigenous peoples were structurally whitened, especially after campaigns like the "Conquest of the Desert" in the 1870s and 1880s. The government annexed millions of acres of Indigenous land through systemic destruction, displacement, and enslavement. The government called it the "Golden Age" of modernisation by distributing indigenous lands to a group of wealthy oligarchs. Men were drafted into forced labour in sugar plantations. Over 15000 survivors were put in concentration camps where disease and starvation took their lives. The rationale was civilisation vs barbarism. Modern historians and human rights legal frameworks widely characterise the Conquest of the Desert as a genocide.&nbsp;<h2>Isolation of structural problems and collectivisation of systemic erasure</h2>The result was a national identity built on erasure. Argentina told itself a story of European descent, distinct from neighbours like Brazil or Uruguay, which acknowledged more racially mixed populations. The state reinforced a narrative of "indigenous disappearance," teaching generations of school children that the Native Americans had simply vanished in the face of oncoming civilisation. The government heavily subsidised and encouraged European migration. War, disease and systemic destruction of African and indigenous men left women isolated and partnering with White immigrants, resulting in the gradual erasure of the population. In 1875, the Argentine Government removed Black from national censuses under the pretense the population was nonexistent and erased them on paper.&nbsp; It numbed the political and social reality of Argentine society, but didn't eliminate racism. Argentine society developed a limited vocabulary and self-awareness around it, since the official narrative was that Argentina doesn't have a race problem, they're basically European. Systemic and structural racism became so normalised that these incidents in the football stadium and squad are treated as isolated cases. While the structural erasure of the indigenous and black population becomes a collective sacrifice for modernisation and the war of independence, stripping away the political intent, the laws, and the systemic planning behind racial engineering.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Argentina's football racism controversies have reignited debate over the country's "white myth," colonial history, and the erasure of Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities.

Argentina's remarkable football achievements often overshadow and sometimes highlight the racism problem that festers within the society. A group of Football fans at the 2026 FIFA World Cup were heard chanting- “QUE VENGAN LOS FRANCESES CON EL DOCUMENTO, QUE JUEGUEN PARA ANGOLA SI LE DAN LOS HUEVOS”- which loosely translates to “Let the Frenchmen come with their ID/document, let them play for Angola if they've got the b*lls.” These chants were not new; these derogatory chants targeting the African heritage of the squad members of the French National like Kylian Mbappé, were heard in the 2022 World Cup Final between France and Argentina, and then it was echoed by the Argentine Football team following their 2024 Copa América victory. Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández was seen broadcasting a live stream on Instagram with the squad members chanting that song. Though he later apologised publicly. During the Argentina-Egypt fixtures of the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, content creator and streamer IShowSpeed was subjected to a racist slur by Argentine fans, telling him to “go home”, even though he was a US citizen.

Argentina's football racism controversies have reignited debate over the country's "white myth," colonial history, and the erasure of Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities.

Argentina's racism problem: How football chants reflect a deeper historical legacy

We have a special economic segment called pitch & portfolio, a series where we analyze the beautiful game of football through the lens of global markets. As we come down to the business end of the tournament, the analysis goes deeper, but to see who wins the economic match. As Argentina and Switzerland prepare to face off, this is a closely watched contest on the field and in the portfolio.


World Cup of Economies: Argentina vs Switzerland

Is FIFA Favouring Argentina? That is the question being asked after Egypt accused football's world governing body of helping the defending champions stay alive at the World Cup. 

World Cup 2026: Egypt alleges Argentina favouritism 

Argentina produced a stunning comeback to keep their FIFA World Cup dreams alive, defeating Egypt 3-2 in a dramatic Round of 16 clash. Trailing 2-0 with just 11 minutes of regulation time remaining, the defending champions staged an incredible fightback to seal a place in the quarterfinals.

Argentina will now face Switzerland in the last eight as their title defence gathers momentum. Watch the full story and match analysis.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina end Egypt's world cup dreams

One of the biggest matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup comes to Atlanta on Tuesday as defending champion Argentina takes on Egypt in the Round of 16. The winner will advance to face either Switzerland or Colombia.

FIFA world cup 2026: Argentina up against Egypt in the round of 16 in Atlanta

Could the future of business be run entirely by algorithms? Argentina’s government has submitted a bold new bill to Congress proposing the creation of "non-human corporations"—a new legal category for companies managed and operated by AI agents. While President Javier Milei pitches this as the next evolution of corporate law, critics and legal experts are sounding the alarm on accountability and the "liability gap."


AI could operate companies under Argentina's new bill 

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World Cup 2026: Egypt alleges Argentina favouritism

FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina end Egypt's world cup dreams

FIFA world cup 2026: Argentina up against Egypt in the round of 16 in Atlanta

AI could operate companies under Argentina's new bill