22/07/2026 15:21 - Politica
On July 19, 2026, the Argentine National Team lost 1-0 against Spain in the 2026 World Cup Final, held in New York. From that moment on, according to a report by consulting firm Ad Hoc Digital, approximately 2.7 million mentions were registered on social media between June 11 and July 20, accusing the country of racism, refereeing favoritism (under the terms 'ArgenFIFA' and 'rigged World Cup'), and sports disloyalty.
International figures such as actor Samuel L. Jackson, singer Rosalía -who later apologized-, artist Patti Smith, and US Representative Jasmine Crockett amplified these criticisms, generating a climate of hostility towards Argentines on platforms like X and TikTok.
On July 22, 2026, President Javier Milei decided to speak out on the matter. Through his X account, he posted a quote attributed to former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill: 'You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.' In a postscript, Milei clarified that some argue the quote belongs to Victor Hugo and that Churchill merely 'updated' it.
Additionally, the President shared an image on Instagram showing a map of Argentina painted in light blue and white, accompanied by the message: 'Now the world will see what a country full of Argentines can achieve'.
As reported by Infobae, the Government interpreted this phenomenon as part of a 'cultural battle'. Milei reposted messages from libertarian figures, such as entrepreneur Martín Varsavsky and economic advisor Felipe Núñez, who linked the sports criticisms to international resistance against the Government's economic model.
Political scientist Agustín Laje, from Fundación Faro, analyzed the situation by accusing the previous political movement (Kirchnerism) of having validated narratives that framed Argentina as racist. He quoted René Descartes to define the episode as a display of 'envy' towards the country.
In contrast to the viralized videos of assaults, the Argentine Ambassador to Spain, Wenceslao Bunge Saravia, assured that consular offices did not register any police reports of attacks against Argentine residents. In statements to Radio Mitre, he pointed out: 'We do not have a single communication, not a single report of aggressions. We do not see it on the streets', asking that the sports rivalry not be taken outside the pitch and highlighting the fraternal bond between both nations.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
