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‘Rifts began to appear’: Why many Latin Americans want Spain to beat Argentina in the World Cup final
Spain squad
- Full squad
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1 David RAYA Goalkeeper
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2 Marc PUBILL Defender
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3 Alex GRIMALDO Defender
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4 Eric GARCIA Defender
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5 Marcos LLORENTE Defender
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6 Mikel MERINO Midfielder
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7 Ferran TORRES Forward
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8 Fabian RUIZ Midfielder
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9 GAVI Midfielder
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10 Dani OLMO Forward
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11 Yeremy PINO Forward
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12 Pedro PORRO Defender
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13 Joan GARCIA Goalkeeper
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14 Aymeric LAPORTE Defender
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15 Alex BAENA Midfielder
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16 RODRI Midfielder
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17 Nico WILLIAMS Forward
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18 Martin ZUBIMENDI Midfielder
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19 Lamine YAMAL Forward
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20 PEDRI Midfielder
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21 Mikel OYARZABAL Forward
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22 Pau CUBARSI Defender
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23 Unai SIMON Goalkeeper
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24 Marc CUCURELLA Defender
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25 Victor MUNOZ Forward
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26 Borja IGLESIAS Forward
Argentina squad
- Full squad
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1 Juan MUSSO Goalkeeper
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2 Marcos SENESI Defender
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3 Nicolas TAGLIAFICO Defender
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4 Gonzalo MONTIEL Defender
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5 Leandro PAREDES Midfielder
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6 Lisandro MARTINEZ Defender
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7 Rodrigo DE PAUL Midfielder
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8 Valentin BARCO Midfielder
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9 Julian ALVAREZ Forward
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10 Lionel MESSI Forward
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11 Giovani Lo Celso Midfielder
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12 Geronimo RULLI Goalkeeper
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13 Cristian ROMERO Defender
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14 Exequiel PALACIOS Midfielder
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15 Nico GONZALEZ Midfielder
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16 Thiago ALMADA Forward
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17 Giuliano SIMEONE Forward
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18 Nico PAZ Forward
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19 Nicolas OTAMENDI Defender
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20 Alexis MAC ALLISTER Midfielder
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21 Jose Manuel LOPEZ Forward
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22 Lautaro MARTINEZ Forward
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23 Emiliano MARTINEZ Goalkeeper
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24 Enzo FERNANDEZ Midfielder
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25 Facundo MEDINA Defender
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26 Nahuel MOLINA Defender
Ahead of Sunday's World Cup final, a notable shift in support has emerged across Latin America, with many people saying they will back Spain over Argentina. Commentators, including Brazilian journalist Julia Duailibi, have pointed to racist behaviour by a minority of Argentinian fans during the tournament, and the perceived silence of others, as a key reason for withholding support. The trend matters because it marks a departure from the traditional instinct to back a fellow South American side against European opposition, reflecting deeper regional rivalries and unresolved tensions around race and identity.
According to Argentinian sociologist Nicolás Cabrera, this kind of cross-border allegiance to Argentina's rivals was previously confined mainly to Brazil, Uruguay and Chile, but has spread more recently to fans in Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador. He attributes the growing rift to Argentina's outsized recent success, including three of the last four World Cup finals, while Brazil have not reached a final since 2002, as well as the enduring star power of Lionel Messi. Cabrera also cites the rising frequency of club fixtures between the countries, with the Copa Libertadores expanding from around 20 teams before the 1990s to nearly 50 today, and the amplifying effect of social media in spreading hate speech, racism and xenophobia that were once more marginal.
In short
- Many Latin Americans plan to support Spain over Argentina in the final
- Racism by some Argentina fans has fuelled the backlash
- Argentina's dominance, Messi, and social media rivalry deepen regional tensions
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Many Latin Americans argue that regional solidarity should outweigh national rivalries when a fellow Latin American nation reaches a World Cup final against a European side. For them, an Argentine victory represents a shared triumph for the continent, a symbolic win over a former colonial power, and a moment when neighbourly football rivalries should be set aside in favour of continental pride and cultural kinship. This view rests on the belief that solidarity among nations with a common history and language matters more than historic on-pitch grudges.
The case against
Others contend that Argentina's own conduct forfeits any automatic claim to regional backing, pointing to a long history of perceived arrogance, mockery of neighbouring nations, and specific allegations of racist behaviour by some fans and players towards other Latin Americans. For these supporters, solidarity ought to be earned through mutual respect rather than assumed from geography or language, making support for Spain a considered response to genuine grievances rather than a betrayal of regional loyalty. They see backing the team most likely to beat Argentina as consistent with, not contrary to, their own principles.
Explained simply
Argentina are preparing for a World Cup final, but there is an unusual situation where many Latin Americans are saying they will back Argentina's opponents, Spain, instead. This breaks with tradition because Latin American countries usually support one another against European teams.
The shift stems from several factors. Some Argentinian fans have engaged in racist behaviour during the tournament, which has prompted supporters in other Latin American nations to withdraw their backing. Argentinian sociologist Nicolás Cabrera notes that whilst Brazil, Uruguay and Chile have long harboured football rivalries with Argentina, this sentiment has recently spread to fans in Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador.
Cabrera attributes this widening rift to Argentina's recent dominance (they have reached three of the last four World Cup finals whilst Brazil have not reached one since 2002), combined with the influence of Lionel Messi's star power. He also points to the expansion of South American club competitions, which means teams from different countries play each other far more frequently, and social media's role in spreading racist behaviour and xenophobia that were previously more contained.
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