AFA president claims 'miserable campaign' targeted Argentina after World Cup final

Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), has accused unspecified entities of waging a "miserable campaign" against the national team following their defeat in the 2026 World Cup final. Speaking a month after the loss, Tapia asserted that the campaign aimed to falsely portray the team as having "given up."

Tapia directly challenged the conspiracy theories that emerged after the July 19 final, which questioned the players' conduct during the match. He stated that while the players "left everything on the field," an external effort was underway to "sow hatred, divide, dirty and destroy the image of a team that earned the respect of millions."

Among the circulating theories was the suggestion that the Argentine players deliberately lost to Spain. Some versions even proposed that the team avoided winning to sidestep potential sanctions related to a gesture asserting Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands using a flag. Tapia strongly rejected such accusations, stating, "You don't come back from being called traitors." He emphasized that questioning the commitment of those who defended the Argentine jersey was unacceptable.

"It's not enough to stay silent. It's not enough to wait for time to pass. It's not enough to change the subject and act as if nothing was ever said," Tapia added, calling for accountability from those who spread the accusations. Spain won the final 1-0 against Argentina with a goal in extra time, securing their second World Cup title.

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