Argentina’s ambassador to India, Mariano Caucino, has thanked Indian football fans for their unwavering support for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the final. Taking X after the tournament, Caucino acknowledged the great support the Albiceleste received from supporters in India, where. Lionel Messi and the national team continues to enjoy one of the biggest fan bases in the world outside of South America.
Argentina ambassador thanks Indian fans
“I am very grateful to the people of India for supporting the Argentina team during the recent World Cup. Thank you, India, once again!” Caucino wrote. Argentina arrived at the tournament as the defending world champions and made it to the second consecutive tournament FIFA World Cup Finally, I hope to be the first country in 64 years to successfully retain the title. However, that dream ended at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Spain won 1-0 in extra time to lift their second World Cup trophy and first since 2010. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute after being set up by Nico Williams, sealing Spain’s title after a hard-fought contest. Luis de la Fuente’s team dominated possession and created the better chances, but Argentina remained in contention thanks to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who produced many saves. The defending champions faced another challenge midway through the second half when Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card following a late challenge on Pau Cubarsi, reducing Argentina to 10 men before half time. Spain briefly believed they had gone past Nico Williams early in extra time, only for the attempt to be disallowed due to foul play in the build-up. Moments later, Williams headed the ball into the path of Torres, who fired home the winner. The victory also extended Spain’s unbeaten international run to 38 European matches while ending Argentina’s bid to become the first team since 1962 to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup. Although Argentina fell short in the final, their tour also attracted fans around the world, especially in India, where the team’s popularity has grown significantly since Messi led the country to World Cup glory in 2022. Caucino’s message recognized the continued connection, thanking the Indian fans for standing by Argentina throughout the tournament despite the disappointment of seeing the defending champions finish as runners-up.
