Argentina’s President Javier Milei has ignited a fresh controversy, accusing the United States, Brazil, and Mexico of funding an “anti-Argentina campaign” during the 2026 World Cup. His extraordinary claims emerged amidst a tournament where La Albiceleste found themselves at the centre of several contentious moments.
Milei’s claims of international funding
Speaking in an interview with Radio Mitre, Milei asserted that a significant portion of the alleged campaign’s funding originated from Argentina’s South American rival. “Who put the most money into this anti-Argentina campaign? The Brazilian government. Twenty-five per cent of the funding came from the Brazilian government. And then they lecture me about interference,” Milei stated, though he provided no evidence to support his claim, as reported by GiveMeSport.
The Argentine president extended his accusations further, alleging that Mexico and the Democratic Party in the United States were also contributors to this supposed effort. He framed the alleged campaign within a broader ideological conflict, suggesting it was driven by political opponents. Milei explained, “funded by Mexico, by the Democratic Party in the United States. Who are they? They are the progressive leaders who don’t want the ideas of freedom to succeed.” Express Sport also reported on these remarks from the Radio Mitre interview.
Controversies surrounding La Albiceleste
Milei’s allegations come after Argentina’s 2026 World Cup campaign was marked by several flashpoints. Following their semi-final victory against England, several Argentina players were seen holding a Falklands-related banner, drawing widespread criticism. The team also faced accusations of racism and conspiracy theories suggesting favouritism towards captain Lionel Messi and his teammates. After the final against Spain at MetLife Stadium, players Leandro Paredes, Nicolas Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, and coach Roberto Ayala were involved in heated interactions, further fuelling the controversies.
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Presidential defence and superstition
In response to the criticism directed at his nation, Milei took to social media, posting messages that attributed the negativity to jealousy. “Do you have enemies? It means you once defended something. We defend Argentina,” read one post. Another suggested, “The problem with Argentina is that we stand out. We don’t go unnoticed, people are jealous of us, and we’re good at almost everything.”
Despite the high stakes, Milei notably chose not to attend the World Cup final, passing up an opportunity to accompany US President Donald Trump and FIFA boss Gianni Infantino. His reasoning was rooted in superstition. “No way [will he attend]. I’m going to keep watching all the games from Olivos,” he told a local Buenos Aires radio station, explaining that Argentina kept winning while he watched from home, a habit he refused to break.
