A fresh controversy has emerged following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after an Argentine psychologist alleged that Lionel Scaloni’s side had been “ordered to lose” the showpiece match.
Spain secured a 1-0 extra-time victory at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal to hand La Roja their second World Cup title after their triumph in 2010.
Argentina’s display raised eyebrows, with the South Americans becoming the first team in World Cup final history to fail to register a single shot on target throughout the entire 120 minutes.
Captain Lionel Messi, who had contributed eight goals and four assists before the final, was restricted to just one blocked effort, while goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez produced 11 saves to keep Argentina in contention.
The unusual performance has fuelled speculation among sections of the Argentine media. In a video shared by news outlet MDZ, a psychologist claimed the team deliberately underperformed.
“There is no doubt that the Argentine National Team was ordered to lose,” she alleged. “As a psychologist, I am trained to recognise what is left unsaid. I saw many strange things during the match.”
The claim has not been supported by any evidence, and neither FIFA nor the Argentine Football Association has responded to the allegation.
The defeat marked Argentina’s fourth World Cup final loss after previous defeats in 1930, 1990 and 2014.
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