22/07/2026 18:56 - Actualidad
Following the Argentine National Team's defeat against Spain in the World Cup final on July 19, 2026, an unusual campaign erupted on international social media accusing the South American country of racism. This time, the debate reached the United States Congress.
On July 21, 2026, during a hearing on the Smithsonian Institution led by the Republican Party, Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (45 years old, representing Texas) asked Yale historian David Blight why the world seemed to be against Argentina in the final. Blight replied that Spain simply had a better team, but Crockett added: 'There is also a history of racism regarding Argentina.'
Born on March 29, 1981, in St. Louis, Missouri, Crockett is an emerging figure in the Democratic Party. A civil rights lawyer and former public defender, she took on pro bono cases for Black Lives Matter activists in 2020. Since January 2023, she has represented Texas's 30th District, which includes parts of Dallas—a city where Argentina played two World Cup matches.
On July 22, 2026, Argentine National Deputy Marcela Pagano (from the Coherencia bloc) sent an open letter to Crockett. With a firm but polite tone, she reproached the congresswoman using an Argentine slang term: 'Macanear is to speak with great certainty about something you do not know.' Pagano provided historical data, reminding Crockett that Argentina abolished slavery in 1813 with the Free Womb law, while the US did so in 1865 and maintained legal segregation until 1964.
Crockett's remarks join a wave of posts by international figures that, according to analysts, were amplified by algorithms and automatic translations. Celebrities such as actor Samuel L. Jackson, singer Rosalía (who later apologized), actor Javier Bardem, and Pedro Pascal shared critical messages against Argentine society in recent hours.
In her letter, Pagano acknowledged that Argentina has its own historical sins, such as the tragic campaigns against indigenous peoples and the historical marginalization of Afro-Argentines. However, she emphasized that there are laws, like the anti-discrimination act passed in 1988, to repair and debate these issues. Finally, the deputy invited the congresswoman to visit Buenos Aires to explore its historical archives and experience Afro-Argentine culture firsthand.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
