Over 9.8 Million Sign Petition to Remove Argentina from FIFA World Cup 2026, Here's Why

Argentina, the defending FIFA World Cup champions, are reportedly facing heavy criticism before their 2026 World Cup semi-final against England. More than 9.8 million people have signed an online petition asking FIFA to remove Argentina from the tournament.

The petition has reportedly claimed that referees have shown favoritism toward Argentina and captain Lionel Messi. Supporters of the campaign believe this gives Argentina an unfair advantage over other teams.

Fans Raise Questions Over Fairness

• More than 9.8 million signatures on the online petition.
• Fans accuse referees of favoring Argentina in matches.
• The campaign says the competition is unfair to other teams.

The petition, reportedly shared on argentinaout.com, says that FIFA and match officials are biased toward Lionel Messi and Argentina. It claims that if one team receives special treatment, other countries do not have a fair chance to win the World Cup. However, FIFA has not made any official statement about the petition or the allegations.

Despite the controversy, England and Argentina are reportedly preparing for an important semi-final match. The two teams have a long football rivalry that includes famous matches such as the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, where Diego Maradona scored the controversial ‘Hand of God’ goal. Their rivalry is also linked to the long-running dispute over the Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina.

England captain Harry Kane reportedly said his team is focused only on football and will not be affected by the history or emotions surrounding the match. He described Argentina as a smart and tactical team that knows how to slow the game and win fouls. The winner of the semi-final will move one step closer to lifting the FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy.