Latin America unites to cheer against Argentina in FIFA World Cup final
Fans from Mexico to Brazil unite to cheer Yamal’s Spain against Argentina and Messi, whom they call ‘FIFA’s golden boy’. While Latin Americans have traditionally
Fans from Mexico to Brazil unite to cheer Yamal’s Spain against Argentina and Messi, whom they call ‘FIFA’s golden boy’. While Latin Americans have traditionally rallied behind football teams from the region who advance deep into the FIFA World Cup, a flood of memes, jokes and criticism has made it clear there is one exception: Argentina. In one photoshopped image that went viral, Lamine Yamal — who stars for Argentina’s final opponents Spain — is wearing a Brazilian jersey. The snarky caption? “The hope of the Brazilian people.” The fervour goes beyond the historic rivalry between Pele’s Brazil and Diego Maradona’s Argentina: Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and others are all hoping Lionel Messi’s Albiceleste bite the dust on Sunday. A similar phenomenon occurred before Argentina won their third World Cup title in Qatar in 2022. Colombian sociologist German Gomez believes the “dynamic of solidarity … has been broken” with Argentina. He said the digital era and social networks have fuelled “narratives” that the team is a darling of FIFA and Gianni Infantino, president of football’s world governing body.
“Argentina has had help from referees,” said Francisco Santos, a Brazilian fan trading World Cup stickers at a shopping centre in Sao Paulo, where cheers rang out when England scored first against Argentina in the semifinal. If Brazil could not become si time champions, “I would rather see Spain become two-time champions than Argentina become four-time champions,” the 42-year-old said. Critics say Argentina have received more favourable calls such as penalties and yellow or red cards against opponents, even when such decisions have been backed by FIFA and experts. “We’re going to cheer for Spain,” said Juan Camilo Abusaid, a 28-year-old finance worker in Bogota, Colombia’s capital. ‘Very political’ Antonio Lopez, 51, a police officer in Mexico City, described Messi as a “legend”. But he added: “If you’re going to sweat and break your back on the pitch to become champions twice, I accept that. If referees are going to help you, I don’t”. At a media conference, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum jokingly asked journalists which team they were supporting in the final. “Spain! Spain!” they replied.
For Mexican anthropology professor Jorge Negroe, a specialist in social studies of sport, “this World Cup has proven to be very political”. Colombian sociologist Gomez added that while Maradona was seen as a revolutionary who confronted FIFA’s power, current narratives perceive Messi as FIFA’s “golden boy”. politics has also created resentment. “I really don’t like Javier Milei (Argentina’s president) at all!” said Rachid Sjoberg, a 29-year-old agricultural laboratory operator in Santiago. “The idea that he would then boast about having won the World Cup if they win does not sit well with me.” Argentine fans and some players have also faced accusations of racism — such as a chant sung by the team in the past mocking the black players in the French team as not being really French. There is also a long history of club-level fans throwing bananas on the field or making monkey gestures at Brazilian fans or black players. During this World Cup, FIFA condemned racism in a statement after an Argentinian supporter told a black US influencer known as IShowSpeed to go “cry at the zoo” during a livestream.
The BriefWire