More than 82,000 Argentine fans have launched a Change.org petition demanding that FIFA order a replay of the 2026 World Cup final after the match ended 1‑0 in favor of Spain in extra time.
Petition Demands Replay
The petition’s author argues that the referee’s decisions were compromised, pointing to a series of contentious calls that appeared to tilt the balance toward Spain, including a goal by Ferran Torres in the 106th minute.
Argentina’s Leandro Paredes was sent off in the 93rd minute after a heated exchange with Eric Garcia and Gavi, while Nahuel Molina appeared to throw a punch at Rodri later in the game.
Emiliano Martínez made a flurry of saves, and footage captured unsavory scenes after the final whistle, with Enzo Fernández receiving a second yellow that resulted in a red card.
Gary Neville, the former England defender turned analyst, condemned the post‑match altercations, and FIFA confirmed it is reviewing the conduct of Argentine players, noting that referee Slavko Vincic issued 46 whistles and recorded 25 infractions involving Argentina.
The controversy has reignited calls for Argentina to be barred from future tournaments, a petition that once gathered more than 29 million signatures before being taken down, while the episode has sparked a broader discussion about transparency in officiating.