INCREDIBLE: Almost Half of Argentinians Think the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Against Spain Was Stolen

A result that still divides

Debate after the defeat

Argentina's defeat against Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, held on July 19 in New York, opened up a range of interpretations. According to a survey by Giacobbe Consultores conducted between July 20 and 24 with 1,200 cases nationwide, 45.6% of respondents believe that Spain won because they played better. However, 33.7% attribute the defeat to political or geopolitical factors, and 14.6% directly to a conspiracy to prevent Argentina from winning the championship again. Additionally, 9.6% maintain that "the powers that be didn't want" the Albiceleste to repeat their title, while 9.5% link the defeat to the controversy over the Falkland Islands flag displayed after the semifinal against England

Pride in the team

Beyond the theories, the survey reflects strong support for the National Team. 87.3% approve of the team's attitude despite the defeat, and the football performance receives an 86.7% approval rating. Lionel Scaloni leads the positive image with 92.2%, closely followed by Lionel Messi with 92.1%. Additionally, 88% of those surveyed want Scaloni to continue as coach, marking a consensus on his leadership in the cycle.

The future of Messi and the captaincy

Messi's future divides opinions, with 43.8% wishing for him to play until the next World Cup, 37.9% until the next Copa América, and 15.8% believing he should retire from the national team now. Regarding the armband, 49.4% do not know or believe that there is still no clear successor for the captaincy.

The survey thus reveals a country marked by pride, suspicion, and gratitude. The final loss to Spain not only left statistics and memories but also a mirror of how Argentines interpret football as part of their identity and politics.