Argentina is poised to take widespread legal action over defamation related to the 2026 World Cup.
On 22 July 2026, Argentine media outlet La Nacion reported that the Argentine Football Association (AFA) is preparing to consider legal action against accusations, attacks on social media, and the spread of false information.
This stems from the Argentine national team facing heavy criticism during the 2026 World Cup, accused of cheating, benefiting from lenient refereeing decisions, or being favored by FIFA throughout the tournament.
Recently, reports indicate that AFA is considering defamation lawsuits against those involved in spreading and amplifying posts or comments that generate negative sentiment towards the organization.
Currently, AFA is reviewing numerous social media accounts on platforms including X and Meta due to shared altered images, manipulated videos, and unfounded claims about the football team.
The Argentine Football Association is rushing to gather as much evidence as possible before deciding on serious legal proceedings, a process that may take considerable time given the vast number of social media posts recently.
Reports state that any defamation lawsuits will focus on false accusations, altered or insufficiently verified images, and claims lacking evidence.
AFA is expected to act fully, targeting not only mainstream media and high-profile social media accounts on platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok, but also anyone—regardless of follower count—who contributes to spreading such content, without considering the size of their audience.