Argentina President Javier Milei breaks silence after 23 million sign petition calling for World Cup ban

Argentine President Javier Milei speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Asuncion, Paraguay, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz) The fallout from Argentina’s dramatic 2026 World Cup final defeat to Spain continues to intensify, with President Javier Milei launching a defiant response on social media 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 after 1-0 in extra time 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 to prevent Lionel Messi’s Argentina from registering a single shot on target in regulation time.However, attention quickly shifted away from football after chaotic scenes broke out at the final whistle, prompting FIFA to open disciplinary proceedings over the conduct of several members of the Argentine delegation.

The petition exceeded 28 million signatures

According to reports, the “Argentina Out” campaign was officially closed on July 19, 2026, immediately after the World Cup final, with exactly 23,316,108 verified signatures from supporters from around 170 countries. The petition narrowly missed the Guinness World Record for the most signed online petition, falling just short of the record 24.3 million signatures.The campaign is calling on FIFA to ban 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 came after a match in which Argentina piled up repeated fouls, had midfielder Enzo Fernández sent off in stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card and got involved in an ugly confrontation after Spain’s win.

Spain’s Gavi, left, falls as he tackles Argentina’s Leandro Paredes (5) and Thiago Almada during the World Cup final 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 Garcia by the neck before clashing with Gavi, while Nahuel Molina appeared to take a swipe at Spain captain Rodri. FIFA has since launched an investigation into the incidents, with players, coaches and the Argentine Football Association potentially facing disciplinary action.

Milei strikes back with provocative posts on social media

Instead of distancing himself from the growing controversy, Argentine President Javier Milei responded on Instagram with a series of patriotic messages defending the national team and criticizing what he suggested was hostility towards Argentina.One of the posts shared by the Argentine leader read:“Do you have enemies? It means you once defended something. We defend Argentina.”In another post, Milei claimed that Argentina’s global importance 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 him unzipping his suit to reveal an Argentina shirt underneath, complete with the caption:“Long live Argentina, dammit!”The posts were widely circulated as the debate over Argentina’s behavior continued both inside and outside the country.

A counter-petition calls for a repeat of the World Cup final

The backlash also sparked a counter-campaign in Argentina.Thousands of supporters have signed a separate petition calling for a replay of the World Cup final, which they say Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić gave a biased performance in favor of Spain.The petition claims the final was affected by “controversial and corrupt” officiating and asks FIFA to overturn the result.However, no verified evidence was presented to substantiate these allegations and there is no indication that FIFA or Vinčić acted improperly during the match.The Argentine Football Association also sought to calm speculation surrounding demands for a replay, while AFA president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia urged fans to embrace Spain’s victory.

Paredes remains unapologetic as FIFA’s investigation continues

Adding to the controversy were comments from midfielder Leandro Paredes, who came under intense scrutiny for his role in the post-match altercation.In a message on social media posted after the final, Paredes expressed pride in Argentina’s campaign but did not apologize for his actions.“Thank you Argentino! 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 my chest full of pride for giving everything we had and raising our flag high again.”He added that it was “an honor to be part of the best Argentine team in history.”Along with Paredes, Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada and assistant coach Roberto Ayala remain under investigation by FIFA following the riots at MetLife Stadium.Meanwhile, criticism continues to grow beyond Argentina’s borders. Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente recently described the scenes as “unbearable” and praised his players for keeping calm during the confrontation, while FIFA’s disciplinary proceedings continue as world football’s governing body reviews referee reports and video footage of the final.