During the afternoon of last Sunday, July 19, the selection of Spain defeated its counterpart 1-0 Argentina in the final of the 2026 World Cupplayed at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jerseywhere more than 82 thousand spectators witnessed the moment in which the Argentine dream of being a two-time champion escaped.
However, Argentina’s defeat against Spain in the final of the World not only did it cause enormous regret among the millions of Argentines and the followers of Lionel Messi around the planet, but, in the hours after the meeting, networks like X, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube they were filled with conspiracy theories.
These conspiracy theories attempt to explain the outcome in New Jersey by appealing to alleged maneuvers hiddenrather than for football reasons. Therefore, this scenario generated a wave of reactions on social networks, mainly because Argentina did not shoot on goal during 115 minutesa number unusual for a final.
Furthermore, according to Antenna 3a Spanish free-to-air television channel, this situation occurred for the first time in a World Cup qualifying phase, so that Internet users and content creators went viral on various digital platforms. narratives and theories about what happened with Argentina in the United States.
The theories most commented on by public opinion
Did FIFA want Spain to be champions?
This is the theory most repeated so far on social networks, because thousands of publications maintain that the International Association Football Federation (FIFA), the institution that governs football worldwide, needed a european champion for “reasons commercial, television and political“, and Spain fit perfectly.
Messages on the platforms often cite assumptions economic interests or agreements with sponsors, but no publication provides verifiable documentation. Therefore, until now, there is no evidence that supports the claim about an alleged pact between the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantinoand the Europeans.
Threats or pressure on footballers and their families?
On social networks it is stated that the footballers were threatened by FIFA, by external powers and even “from very high up” to lose the 2026 World Cup final against the Spanish team, which would presumably explain the faces tense of the Argentine players who played the match in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“They squeezed the players and they threatened to their families,” added an Internet user after publishing the video in which Lionel Messi He tells his companions to “forget everything.” Therefore, since the recording emerged, social media users began to suspect that something had happened during halftime of the final against La Roja.
Leo Messi telling the players before the game to “Stay calm” and “Forget about everything else.”
“Let’s stay calm, boys. Forget about everything else. Forget about everything. Let’s just think about playing, that’s all.” pic.twitter.com/3LNI8WXaIi
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) July 20, 2026
Masonic interests behind the final?
On social networks there is talk of freemasonry and even of numerology. One of the conspiracy theories states that behind the match between Spain and Argentina there were “a lot of mafia involved” and “Masonic interests”, in reference to the masonryan institution that promotes moral improvement and seeks to build a more just society.
This theory states that the grand final was “an opportunity to refloat a certain patriotism” in Spain, at a time when “feeling honored by one’s homeland and one’s roots is often considered fascist“, and that “the Argentines have already won their World Cup” after beating England in semi-finals. However, the version is spread without providing evidence.
The Final. 🏟️#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/zSwOsO1s72
— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_es) July 19, 2026