Argentina 'Out' Petition Closes After Garnering Over 23 Million Signatures, Nearly Breaking World Record
An unprecedented online petition demanding Argentina's permanent ban from the FIFA World Cup has concluded, amassing over 23 million signatures and narrowly missing a Guinness World Record. The movement, fueled by allegations of referee bias during the 2026 tournament, has prompted a FIFA investigation into post-final incidents.
An online petition calling for the permanent exclusion of Argentina from the FIFA World Cup has drawn a staggering 23,316,108 signatures from approximately 170 countries, coming within a million signatures of breaking a Guinness World Record. Titled 'Argentina Out,' the petition gained immense traction throughout and immediately following the FIFA World Cup 2026, reflecting widespread discontent over perceived referee favouritism towards the South American giants and their captain, Lionel Messi. Argentina Fans Launch Petition Demanding FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Replay Against Spain.
The petition's momentum escalated amid a tournament marred by controversy surrounding La Albiceleste's performances. Despite reaching the final, where they ultimately fell 1-0 to Spain, Argentina's path was dogged by accusations of biased officiating. Notably, a contentious round-of-16 clash with Egypt and several other incidents fueled the calls for their banishment.
Record-Breaking Bid Falls Short
The 'Argentina Out' campaign closed with its final tally of 23,316,108 signatures, far exceeding its initial target of 5 million. This monumental effort positioned it as one of the most signed petitions in history, falling just short of the existing Guinness World Record. The record for the most signatories to a petition remains with the "Jubilee 2000" campaign, launched in 1997 to advocate for the cancellation of debts for the world's poorest countries, which gathered 24,319,181 signatures.
Allegations of Bias and FIFA's Response
The core of the petition's argument revolved around persistent claims that FIFA and match officials exhibited a clear bias in favour of Argentina and Lionel Messi throughout the 2026 World Cup. The petitioners argued that the integrity of the tournament was compromised, with many believing the winner was pre-determined. Did Lionel Messi Say 'Referee No Fair No Fair' After FIFA World Cup 2026 Final? Fact Check Reveals Viral Video Contains Fake Audio.
In the wake of the highly charged final against Spain, FIFA confirmed it is actively investigating post-match incidents involving several Argentine players and officials. Reports indicate altercations between Argentina's Nahuel Molina and Spain captain Rodri, as well as Leandro Paredes clashing with Spain defender Eric Garcia. Assistant coach Roberto Ayala was also reportedly involved in the fracas, and Paredes also appeared to push Spain substitute Gavi to the ground. FIFA's disciplinary committee has since appointed an ethics prosecutor to review potential violations, including breaches of conduct and bringing the sport into disrepute.
Despite the unprecedented number of signatures and the ongoing FIFA investigation into player conduct, the petition itself has had no direct impact on FIFA's decisions regarding Argentina's participation in current or future tournaments. The football world now awaits the outcome of FIFA's internal inquiry, with potential repercussions for those involved.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 23, 2026 02:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
