An online campaign calling for Argentina’s national football team to be disqualified from the 2026 World Cup has gained significant traction. As of 1:40 PM Moscow time on July 13, it had garnered over 2.5 million signatures.
The organizers claim that football officials are biased in favor of Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, and that the refereeing body is deliberately steering his team toward the tournament final.
“Why should the rest even bother taking part if the winner has already been decided?” the petition reads.
To push their demands, activists have set up an independent website called Argentina Out, which is not officially linked to FIFA or any other relevant organizations. The petition’s goal is to collect 5 million signatures.
On July 12, Argentina’s team, led by Lionel Messi, advanced to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup for the second consecutive time, following a 3–1 victory over Switzerland. The match took place at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Goals for the winning side were scored by forward Alexis Mac Allister, as well as Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez. For the losing team, Dan Ndoye netted the sole reply.
During the quarterfinal match against Switzerland on July 12, Argentina’s captain and forward, Lionel Messi, reprimanded the match referee, Portugal’s João Pinheiro, urging him to communicate respectfully. In the heat of the dispute, Messi and the official stood face to face. At one point, the Argentine captain’s expression hardened, and in visible anger, he called on his interlocutor to stop being rude.
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