Argentina's 2026 World Cup Draws Spotlight on Absence of Black Players

Argentina entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the only one of the 48 qualifying nations without a Black player in its squad. Historical policies of 19th‑century “whitening” and successive waves of European immigration reduced the Afro‑Argentine population to less than 1% of the 46 million citizens today. Only three players of confirmed Black ancestry have ever represented the Albiceleste, the most notable being Alejandro de los Santos, who played in the 1925 South American Championship.

At the tournament, Argentina faced Switzerland in the quarterfinals on July 11 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The match was broadcast on Fox in the United States, with a Spanish‑language feed available on Peacock. Streaming options included free trials on Fubo, DirecTV, Peacock Premium and subscription plans on Sling.