More than 23 million people have now signed a petition demanding Argentina be thrown out of future World Cups, and the country's president has finally responded.
On Thursday, Javier Milei posted a defiant message on Instagram in response to the growing backlash, days after Argentina's ugly exit from the 2026 World Cup final.
The petition, titled "Argentina Out," has collected signatures from people in 170 different countries since it launched during the tournament.
Its organisers argue that refereeing decisions throughout the competition consistently favoured Lionel Messi's side, and that FIFA should act before the next tournament.
FIFA has firmly denied any bias, and no evidence has emerged to support claims of match-fixing or bribery.
How Javier Milei Responded To The Petition
Rather than responding directly to the allegations in the petition, Milei used a series of Instagram posts to defend Argentina. In one message, he argued that Argentina is a nation that draws envy from others because of its success.
He wrote: "The problem with Argentina is that we stand out; we don't go unnoticed. People are jealous of us, and we’re good at almost everything.", adding that someone needed to say it publicly.
The president avoided addressing the petition's allegations of refereeing bias. Milei also shared an image of himself wearing a digitally generated Argentina shirt under a blazer, alongside a patriotic caption celebrating the country.
He also did not mention FIFA's ongoing investigation into Argentina's players' conduct after the final whistle, a controversy that helped the petition surpass 20 million signatures within days.
This is not the first time Javier Milei is weighing in publicly on the national team's fortunes. He has frequently used social media to comment on issues beyond economics and politics
Notably absent from his statement was any acknowledgement of Egypt's separate, formal complaint about officiating during the tournament, which predates the final and involves a different match entirely.
Why Argentina's Players Are Under FIFA Investigation
The petition is closely linked to the scenes that followed Spain’s extra-time win on Sunday, when Leandro Paredes was involved in a physical confrontation with Gavi and Eric Garcia after the final whistle.
His teammate Nahuel Molina was also seen throwing a punch toward Spain captain Rodri during the same post-match. Several Argentina players turned their backs during Spain’s trophy celebration, that moment quickly spread online.
And was repeatedly cited by petition supporters as evidence of poor sportsmanship. FIFA has since confirmed that it is investigating the incidents, with the possibility of retrospective disciplinary action against those involved still on the table.
Separately, Egypt lodged an official complaint after a controversial 3-2 Round of 16 defeat to Argentina earlier in the tournament, adding another thread to accusations of favourable treatment.
Argentina Football Association president Claudio Tapia addressed the final defeat directly, saying Spain had simply been the better side on the day. He urged supporters to accept the loss with the same grace shown in past celebrations.
No formal action has been announced against any individual player at this stage, and FIFA has not indicated a timeline for concluding its investigation.
Can The Petition Lead To A World Cup Ban?
Online petitions calling for national team bans are not new in football, but none has approached the scale this one has reached in such a short period. FIFA regulations do not currently provide a way for a public petition to trigger a competition ban.
Which means, that the document has no binding authority. Any disciplinary consequences would instead need to come through FIFA's own investigation into the post-match conduct, this process operates independently of public campaigns.
For now, attention shifts to whether FIFA's investigation produces any sanctions against Paredes, Molina, or others involved in the post-match scenes.
