The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is considering legal action over what it says was a coordinated misinformation campaign targeting the national team and its players during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Days after Spain defeated Argentina to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a wave of anti-Argentina content flooded social media, with viral posts ranging from accusations of racism to alleged misconduct involving the AFA. Among the most widely shared claims were American actor Samuel L. Jackson’s description of Argentina as one of the “most racist countries in the world” and French journalist Romain Molina’s allegations against the AFA.
Now, the AFA is reportedly preparing legal action over what it describes as a coordinated misinformation campaign targeting the country and its players during the FIFA World Cup.
According to early reports, the governing body is weighing defamation lawsuits centered on “false allegations, manipulated or unverified images, and accusations made without evidence.” A legal team is also said to be gathering evidence, including social media posts, screenshots, and other material.
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The reported legal action could have a broad scope. The AFA is expected to go “all in,” pursuing not only major media outlets and prominent accounts on platforms such as X, Instagram, and TikTok, but also “ANYONE (even with few followers)” who allegedly helped spread the campaign, regardless of the size of their audience. Further developments are expected as the evidence collection continues.
The reported move comes after Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in extra time in the World Cup final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Argentina, the defending champions, had reached the final after beating England in the semifinals.
The team was at the center of several controversies during the tournament, with conspiracy theories circulating online that FIFA officials were favoring Lionel Messi and Argentina.
Those claims gained attention after Messi was not booked for a challenge against Algeria in Argentina’s opening Group J match. Following Egypt’s 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the round of 16, Egypt striker Mostafa Ziko described the competition as “rigged,” while coach Hossam Hassan said: “They want Argentina and Messi to stay in the World Cup for marketing.”
FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina rejected those allegations and defended French referee Francois Letexier.
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Argentina also faced criticism after players displayed a banner reading “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” following their semifinal victory over England, reviving the long-running dispute over the Falkland Islands. FIFA has confirmed that it is investigating the incident but has not announced disciplinary action.
The backlash intensified after the final, with reports of Argentines facing harassment or insults in countries including Brazil, Spain and Germany.
A widely circulated video also appeared to show a man wearing an Argentina shirt being attacked at Madrid’s Sol metro station. Spain’s National Police told La Nacion that no official complaint had been filed and that it could not confirm when the incident occurred.
The AFA’s reported legal review could expand beyond major media organizations to social media accounts and other online platforms as its legal team gathers posts and other material related to the alleged campaign.