Spain’s dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final may have sealed the tournament, but controversy surrounding the showpiece continues to rage days after the final whistle.A petition calling for the World Cup final to be replayed has now attracted 88,915 signatures at the time of writing, with thousands of Argentina fans claiming the match was affected by controversial refereeing decisions.An online campaign, launched on Change.org by Argentinian activist Gisela Sánchez, calls on FIFA to review how Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić officiated Sunday’s final at the New York Stadium in New Jersey.
The petition accuses the judge of “distortion and fraud”.
Spain secured their second men’s World Cup title thanks to a Ferran Torres winner in the 106th minute of extra time, ending Argentina’s hopes of defending the trophy they won four years ago.However, the result was not accepted by the Argentine supporters’ section.In requestSánchez says Vinčić acted in a “disruptive and fraudulent manner” and is urging FIFA to investigate several key decisions made in the final.“The recent final between Argentina and Spain was marred by controversy and the corruption of the referee who, according to video evidence, was bought to influence the outcome of the match,” the petition said.“It’s very disappointing for the players, the coaches, and above all, for the fans who want to see a game that has been chosen by talent and commitment on the field, not by fraudulent decisions.“If we allow corruption to go unnoticed around the world, we are setting a bad example for future athletes and fans.“Therefore, we ask FIFA to review these events seriously and clearly, and consider a final replay, this time without the influence of a corrupt referee.”
88,000 Argentina fans want a repeat of the World Cup final after claims of “contradiction and fraud”
The request, however, does not provide independent evidence to verify the claims beyond the videos broadcast on the television channel that the organizer claims to be in Spain.
Spain won before we sealed the win in extra time
Despite the reaction of some supporters, Spain were seen as the better side in the final.Luis de la Fuente’s side were controlled for a long period of time, putting Argentina inside their own half and preventing the defenders from registering a single shot on target in time.Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez repeatedly kept Argentina in the contest before Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute of extra time.
Fans watch the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Argentina’s task was already complicated after midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off in the third minute of stoppage time at the end of normal time.Having already been suspended for refusing to follow a free-kick, Fernández received a second yellow card after a challenge on Spain midfielder Pau Cubarsí, reducing Lionel Scaloni’s side to ten men before extra time.According to match statistics, Vinčić committed 46 fouls in the final, of which 25 were against Argentina as the game split.
Tempers grew after the final whistle
The frustration continued until the end of the evening.As soon as Spain were confirmed as world champions, bad things happened on the pitch.Leandro Paredes was sent off after the final whistle following a row involving Eric García and Gavi, while Nahuel Molina looked set to start another part of the row after clashing with Spain captain Rodri.The incident has been the subject of a separate investigation by FIFA.Speaking during the ITV broadcast, former England defender Gary Neville was highly critical of Argentina’s performance.“It’s a shame,” said Neville.“I love the competitiveness of the Argentines, they fight and destroy their lives in every game. Messi inspires them sometimes and they are very competitive and I love their role.“But it’s been a shame the last few games.”
A similar repeat campaign appeared early in the race
Argentina’s petition is not the first online campaign to call for a World Cup replay of the tournament.After Spain’s semi-final win over France, French fans launched a similar Change.org petition after protesting the penalty that opened the scoring.The campaign also gathered more than 82,000 people, although it did not affect FIFA’s results.Likewise, there is no indication that the latest petition will change the outcome of the World Cup final.Meanwhile, Change.org has also hosted controversial petitions. One campaign calling for Argentina to be banned from future World Cups garnered over 29 million views before it was shut down.Away from the online controversy, thousands of Argentina fans rallied across the country after the team returned home, cheering Lionel Scaloni’s side for a second consecutive World Cup final despite failing to retain the title against a formidable Spanish side.
