Days after Argentina's 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, an Argentine fan has launched an online petition calling on FIFA to annul the result and order a replay, alleging refereeing errors during the match.
The petition, created on Change.org by Gisela Sanchez, had gathered more than 80,200 signatures by Thursday.
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Ferran Torres lifts the World Cup
(Photo: Justin Setterfield / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
It criticizes Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić, who officiated the final, and urges FIFA to review several decisions made during the match, which Spain won thanks to an extra-time goal by Ferran Torres.
The petition alleges that multiple refereeing decisions influenced the outcome of the game and claims there were "irregularities" during the final. However, it does not present evidence to support those allegations.
The campaign follows a similar online petition launched during the tournament after Spain's 2-0 semifinal victory over France. That petition, which argued Spain's opening goal stemmed from an incorrect refereeing decision that led to a penalty, attracted more than 82,000 signatures but received no public response from FIFA.
FIFA has not commented on the latest petition and is not expected to consider the request.
Yamal reveals what Messi told him after the final
One of the most talked-about moments after Sunday's World Cup final came when Spain's Lamine Yamal and Argentina captain Lionel Messi embraced on the field following the final whistle.
Yamal later revealed what the Argentine star told him.
Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi
(Photo: REUTERS/Jeenah Moon)
"He told me to keep following my path and that the future belongs to our generation," Yamal said. "Those words mean as much to me as the gold medal around my neck."
The 19-year-old Barcelona forward described Messi, 39, as "the greatest footballer in history."
"He is someone I've always admired," Yamal said. "After the match I wanted to show him my respect."
Messi had also praised Yamal before the final.
"He's a tremendous player and already a global star," Messi said. "He's only 19 and has his entire career ahead of him."
The connection between the two predates their meeting in the World Cup final.
In 2007, during a Barcelona and UNICEF charity calendar photo shoot, a young Messi famously posed holding and bathing a 5-month-old Yamal. The images resurfaced and went viral in recent years following Yamal's rise to international stardom.