Over 23 million sign petition to ban Argentina from World Cup for life
An online petition demanding a permanent ban for Argentina from the World Cup has surpassed 23 million signatures following the controversial 2026 tournament.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
A viral online campaign titled "Leave, Argentina" has reached an unprecedented scale, gathering over 23.3 million signatures. The petition calls for a lifetime ban on the Argentine national team from World Cup participation, alleging that FIFA and referees consistently favored the side and its captain Lionel Messi throughout the 2026 tournament.
Organizers argue that the competition lacks integrity, claiming winners are predetermined. While the initial goal was 5 million signatures, the response far exceeded expectations, nearly breaking the all-time record held by the 1997 "Jubilee 2000" campaign, which amassed 24 million signatures.
Public frustration peaked following the 2026 World Cup final, where Spain defeated Argentina with a 106th-minute goal from Ferran Torres. The match, officiated by Slavko Vincic, was marked by significant controversy, including disallowed goals and missed disciplinary calls against Argentine players.
Conversely, supporters of the Argentine team have launched their own petition on Change.org, demanding a replay of the final, citing alleged refereeing errors. This appeal has garnered over 61,000 signatures, though no concrete evidence of match-altering violations has been provided.