AFA President Tapia denounces conspiracy theories regarding 2026 World Cup final

Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), has issued a forceful public statement condemning what he described as a “miserable campaign” of conspiracy theories following Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

Tapia addressed rumors that circulated after the match at MetLife Stadium, which suggested the Argentine players had intentionally “given up” or performed poorly to avoid potential sanctions related to sovereignty displays regarding the Malvinas Islands. He denounced these claims as lies intended to “sow hatred, divide, and destroy the image” of the national team.

In his lengthy social media post, Tapia demanded apologies from those who spread these unsubstantiated theories, stating, “To treat the players of the National Team as traitors is something you don't come back from.” He emphasized that while the players gave everything on the pitch, external actors sought to damage the reputation of the squad and coaching staff led by Lionel Scaloni.