[Saba Sports News] In the World Cup final, Argentina were taken to extra time but lost 1-0 to Spain. Spain controlled the match throughout, and Argentina did not register a single shot in regulation time. After the World Cup concluded, footage of Lionel Messi addressing the squad ahead of the final sparked a string of conspiracy theories. In this pre-match team talk video, Messi repeatedly urged the side to “stay calm”, stressing: “Forget everything. We just play football; focus only on the game.”
Such conspiracy theories spread rapidly across Argentina. Several Argentine journalists highlighted the team’s odd performance in the final, while multiple content creators on social media claimed Argentina had been threatened, dared not win and were forced to hand over the title. There are currently three prevailing conspiracy theories surrounding the World Cup final.
The first claims FIFA ordered Argentina to lose the final, threatening to ban the nation from the next two World Cups. The purported reason was the political banner declaring “The Malvinas are Argentine” displayed by Argentina after their semi-final. The second alleges the FBI threatened Claudio Tapia, President of the Argentine Football Association, who is under investigation over tax evasion. It is claimed the FBI demanded Tapia instruct Argentina’s players to deliberately lose the final. The third theory states UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin sought to block FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election. Following negotiations with Infantino, as a condition for ceasing opposition to his re-election, Čeferin insisted Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić be appointed to take charge of the final, ensuring the European side Spain claimed the trophy.
Spanish newspaper El Mundo published an article refuting these conspiracy theories, arguing such absurd allegations lack any credible foundation.
The rebuttal of these World Cup final conspiracy theories by Spanish media represents a rational response grounded in factual verification and logical analysis, aiming to dispel unsubstantiated rumours circulating after Argentina’s defeat in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final held across the United States, Canada and Mexico.