FIFA has launched a disciplinary investigation into the behavior of the Argentina national team during the 2026 World Cup final and throughout the tournament. The investigation also covers the Argentine Football Association (AFA), two players, and one assistant coach.
A massive brawl erupted on the pitch right after the final whistle of the match, which Spain won 1-0. The incident began when Argentina's Leandro Paredes attacked Spain's Gavi, and Paredes now faces three separate assault charges. His teammate Nahuel Molina is being investigated for two assault charges, and assistant coach Roberto Ayala for one.
Political banner and racist chants
Another aspect of the investigation is the political banner displayed after Argentina's semi-final victory over England. The players unfurled a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" (The Malvinas Islands belong to Argentina). This slogan recalls the Falkland Islands dispute, which led to war between Britain and Argentina in 1982. FIFA has charged the AFA with "using a sporting event for unsporting demonstrations."
FIFA has also included in the investigation the "discriminatory chants and gestures" by Argentina fans, as well as "throwing objects from the stands in multiple matches." An Argentine fan telling Black American internet personality IShowSpeed to "cry in the zoo" during a live stream had fueled racism debates. Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson also called Argentina "one of the most racist countries in the world" and urged people not to support Black players.
What are the possible sanctions?
If the charges against individual players are proven, Leandro Paredes could receive a multi-match suspension. Nahuel Molina may face a lighter penalty. Assistant coach Roberto Ayala could be banned from the touchline or stadium for a certain number of matches.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) could face sanctions such as a heavy fine, an official warning or reprimand, and an order to improve crowd control. International teams have previously been punished with playing behind closed doors or spectator restrictions.
While FIFA theoretically has the power to ban Argentina from future tournaments, this scenario is considered extremely unlikely. Such a decision would require repeated offenses. In the past, English clubs were banned from European competitions due to pitch incidents in the 1980s and 90s, but there is no precedent for a national team being banned from the World Cup or European Championship.
