Rosalía Apologizes After Argentina Controversy Over Shared World Cup Final Video

Spanish singer Rosalía found herself embroiled in controversy in Argentina after sharing a video on social media that was widely interpreted as a provocation following the national team's defeat in the 2026 World Cup final. The incident forced the artist to issue an apology on her social media platforms.

The controversy originated from an Instagram video posted by influencer Mia Khalifa. In the recording, Khalifa lip-synced to a segment of Rosalía's song 'La Perla,' accompanied by text that read: "how life sounds now that the pearls have been defeated." The post gained significant traction after Rosalía herself shared it with her followers.

While some users perceived the post as a simple musical reference, many in Argentina connected it directly to the recent World Cup final loss to Spain. The chosen lyrics from 'La Perla', specifically "local disappointment, national heartbreaker. An emotional terrorist. The biggest world disaster. It's a pearl, nobody trusts it", further fueled this interpretation, leading many to question Rosalía's decision to amplify the content.

Khalifa had previously expressed support for the Spanish team during the tournament and had even placed a bet on Spain's victory, reportedly winning $650,000. This context intensified the scrutiny of her posts related to the championship.

The backlash quickly spread to Rosalía's social media accounts, particularly as she is scheduled to perform in Buenos Aires in August to promote her new album. The situation heightened the impact of the controversy, generating numerous comments directed at the singer. One widely shared post questioned the artist's actions, stating, "Celebrating your country's victory? Great, but agreeing that Argentines are 'pearls' seems a bit hypocritical for someone coming to Argentina to promote their album."