Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign ended with more than just a runners-up medal. The Lionel Messi-led side found itself at the centre of one of the biggest online movements in football history, as a petition demanding the team’s exclusion from future World Cups amassed more than 23 million signatures.

The campaign gained momentum throughout the tournament and attracted even greater attention after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final. Before it was eventually closed, the petition had collected 23,316,108 digital signatures from around 170 countries, according to reports published by multiple European outlets.

Why did the petition against Argentina gain traction?

Argentina reached the World Cup final but their journey was repeatedly surrounded by controversy. Alongside allegations of refereeing bias in their favour, several incidents during the tournament fuelled criticism from football fans across the world.

The online campaign, titled “Argentina Out”, was initially launched while the tournament was still in progress. Organisers claimed the competition had not been conducted fairly and questioned the integrity of the event.

The petition included the following message: “Why should the rest of the teams play in the tournament if the winner is known in advance? Exclude Argentina from the World Cup and give everyone a fair chance.”

The petition originally aimed to collect five million signatures, but the number eventually climbed to more than 23 million, making it one of the most widely supported online petitions ever recorded.

Heated World Cup final added to the controversy

The final against Spain brought fresh scrutiny to Argentina after a series of flashpoints on and off the ball. Enzo Fernandez was shown a red card for a challenge on Pau Cubarsi during the match, a dismissal that proved to be a significant moment as Argentina eventually lost 1-0.

After the final whistle, further incidents involving Argentina players drew attention. Reports stated that Leandro Paredes punched Spanish defender Eric Garcia and also threw Gavi to the ground during the confrontation that followed the match.

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Those scenes led to another surge in support for the petition, which continued to circulate rapidly across social media before being closed.

Petition fell just short of the Guinness World Record

Following Spain’s victory in the final, the organisers of the campaign posted a closing message that read: “FIFA ignored us, but Spain kept its promise… thank you, Spain.”

Although the campaign did not become the most-signed petition in history, it came remarkably close.

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The current record is held by the Jubilee 2000 movement, which collected 24,319,181 signatures. With 23,316,108 signatures, the petition targeting Argentina finished just short of that mark, making it one of the largest digital campaigns ever associated with a football tournament.

FAQs

Why did the petition against Argentina go viral?

The petition gained traction over allegations of refereeing bias and controversies involving Argentina during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

How many signatures did the Argentina ban petition receive?

The petition collected 23,316,108 signatures from around 170 countries before it was closed.