Although the 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded on July 19, controversy surrounding the final continues. Following Spain’s 1–0 victory over Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, thousands of Argentine fans have launched an online petition demanding that the final be replayed, citing concerns over refereeing and VAR decisions.
The petition, created on Change.org by Argentine football supporter Gisela Sánchez, has already gathered more than 61,500 signatures.
The petition calls on FIFA to review the performance of Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić and reassess several VAR decisions made during the match.
According to the petition organizer, several officiating decisions may have influenced the outcome of the final, and a number of alleged irregularities should be investigated. However, no independently verified evidence has been presented to support these claims.
Under FIFA regulations and established sports law, a match can only be replayed under exceptional circumstances, such as serious procedural errors or proven violations of the rules. An online petition or public opinion alone has no legal or official authority to overturn or replay the result of an international match.
This is not the first such campaign during the tournament. Earlier, a petition in France collected more than 82,000 signatures demanding a replay of the Spain–France semifinal after a controversial incident. That request was also rejected and had no impact on the tournament.
Spain secured the World Cup title thanks to Ferran Torres’ extra-time winner. Despite the defeat, thousands of Argentine fans gathered across the country to show their appreciation for Lionel Messi and the national team. However, post-match celebrations in parts of Buenos Aires were marred by clashes between some supporters and police.
