The final of the 2026 World Cup not only marked the crowning of Spain, but it also sparked a wave of social media posts that generated outrage among thousands of Argentinians. In the hours following the match, various international figures shared messages, images, and reactions that were interpreted by users as attacks against Argentina, its National Team, and, in some cases, against the national government.
From Hollywood actors to musicians and influencers, these posts quickly went viral and unleashed calls for apologies, calls for boycotts, and intense debates on digital platforms.
Rosalía and Mia Khalifa
One of the first figures to become embroiled in the controversy was Rosalía. The Spanish singer shared on TikTok a video originally posted by influencer Mia Khalifa, who publicly supported Spain throughout the World Cup and even claimed to have bet a million dollars in favor of the European team.
After the final, Khalifa celebrated Argentina's defeat using "La Perla", a song from Rosalía's latest album, as background music, and wrote:
"How life sounds now that the pearls have been defeated."
In Spain, the term "pearl" is often used ironically to describe a troublesome or untrustworthy person. Many Argentinians interpreted Rosalía's repost as support for the message and began demanding refunds for the tickets to the four concerts the artist has scheduled in Buenos Aires.
Samuel L. Jackson
The American actor Samuel L. Jackson also found himself at the center of the discussion after reposting an image shared by the account SEC Black Alumni Network.
The post stated:
"Argentina has historically been one of the most racist countries in the world, if not the most racist."
