Millions of football fans around the world are calling for Argentina to be disqualified from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The calls come amid claims of bias towards Lionel Messi's side, particularly following their 2-1 victory over England in the semi-final clash on Wednesday (July 15).
FIFA is also assessing an incident involving Argentina players holding up a banner about the Falkland Islands following their World Cup win over England.
This all comes as the South American side gears up to play Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday (July 19).
22 million fans sign petition to have Argentina removed from the World Cup
A petition hosted on a site called 'Argentina Out' has gathered more than 22 million signatures (at the time of writing) calling for Lionel Messi's side to be kicked out of the World Cup.
It argues that FIFA and match officials have shown favouritism towards Argentina and Messi.
The petition reads: "It is obvious that FIFA and the referees are biased towards Lionel Messi and Argentina.
"Why should the rest of the world compete when the winner has alrady been decided?
"Kick Argentina out of the World Cup and give everyone else a fair chance."
That’s It. I am DONE! I am DONE watching football. This World Cup is the worst thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. Heart break after Heart break
Ronaldo, Neymar & Modric Gone
Mbappe and France Gone
England Gone
While That 🐀 Messi is at the finals. I’ve genuinely never… pic.twitter.com/Sxt3wZF8Py— Argentina Out 🇦🇷 (@argentinaoutt) July 16, 2026
The website also outlines perceived injustices against England during the semi-final, including claims of:
- A missed red card
- An alleged chokehold by Messi on Jude Bellingham
- That Messi received his "preferred" referee
A second petition, titled 'Disqualify Argentina from the 2026 World Cup,' has gathered nearly 9,000 signatures on Change.org (at the time of writing).
It calls for an independent investigation into claims of bias and unfair officiating.
That petition states: "In recent years, I have grown increasingly disillusioned with international football, especially concerning the unfair advantages certain teams seem to enjoy.
"While I love the sport, watching it has become an exercise in frustration, particularly when witnessing the repeated 'miracle plays' that always seem to favor Argentina.
"Argentina, a team with undeniable talent and strong football history, should not have to rely on questionable officiating to secure victories.
"It's not just about a single match or a few calls; it's about the credibility of the World Cup itself.
"The integrity of the tournament is compromised when teams cannot rely on fair and just competition to determine winners."
Argentina could face disciplinary action over Falkland Islands banner
In addition to the officiating controversy, Argentina could face disciplinary action after their players displayed a politically charged banner following their win over England.
During celebrations after the match against England on Wednesday (July 15), members of the Argentinian squad held up a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas", which translates to "The Falkland Islands are Argentinian".
The gesture has prompted FIFA to review the incident.
A FIFA spokesperson said: “As is standard procedure, FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the Fifa disciplinary code.”
The Falkland Islands remain a UK overseas territory, with residents voting overwhelmingly to remain under British sovereignty in a 2013 referendum.
In 1982, Argentinian forces invaded the islands, but were forced to surrender after a brief conflict.
Should Argentina be disqualified from the World Cup?
Ahead of the World Cup final on Sunday, readers were asked whether they believed Argentina should be disqualified from the tournament.
The response was overwhelmingly in favour, with 81% (5,489 votes) backing a ban.
Just 14% (980 votes) said Argentina should be allowed to play in the final, while 5% (329 votes) said they were unsure.
In a separate poll, 80% (5,886 votes) of readers said they agreed there had been favouritism shown towards Argentina and Messi in the 2026 World Cup.
Only 12% (905 votes) disagreed, while 4% (289 votes) said they were unsure.
Do you think Argentina should be disqualified from the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.
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