sociated with the two countries have led some to try to read the final from a political angle that goes beyond the boundaries of the stadium.
In recent years, Argentina's name has been associated with closer ties to Israel, especially since President Javier Meli came to power in 2023.
Milley has declared his strong support for Israel on more than one occasion, and has spoken of his desire to strengthen relations between the two countries, while some of his positions, such as talking about moving the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem, have sparked widespread controversy at the international level.
This political rapprochement prompted some pro-Israel voices to show their support for the Argentine national team, especially after it reached the final led by star Lionel Messi.
In contrast, Argentine society itself holds diverse views towards Israel, amid the presence of large Jewish and Arab communities in the country, making the picture more complex than the official government position.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has found himself at the center of some political debates because of his global fame and past relationships.
The player, who throughout his career has maintained an image relatively far removed from political stances, previously visited Israel and the West Bank in 2013 during a tour with FC Barcelona, and has also had business ties with Israeli companies.
In contrast, Messi enjoys immense popularity in the Arab world, despite these criticisms, as many believe that the player has always focused on football and has not adopted declared political positions.
This is different from the late Argentine legend Diego Maradona, who was more present in political issues and declared his support for the Palestinians on several occasions.
On the other hand, in recent years Spain has become one of the most prominent European countries that have taken more critical stances towards Israeli policies, especially after the Spanish government officially recognized the State of Palestine in 2024, along with Ireland and Norway.
The stance of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government has led some pro-Palestinian voices to see the Spanish national team as a symbol associated with these political positions.
The controversy surrounding the Spanish national team also increased after the young star Lamine Jamal appeared carrying the Palestinian flag during previous celebrations with FC Barcelona, a move that sparked mixed reactions between supporters and critics.
Lamine Jamal’s name was present not only because of his technical level, but also because of his background and symbolism, as he is a player of Moroccan and Muslim origin.
The player faced criticism after incidents involving chants that some considered racist during matches, but he affirmed his rejection of any racist or exclusionary rhetoric.
The Argentina-Spain final reflects a phenomenon that has become strongly present in modern football, where national teams are no longer just sports teams, but have sometimes become linked to national identity, culture and political stances.
MetLife Stadium will be the stage for the highly anticipated match between Spain and Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final at 10 pm on Sunday.
In front of more than 80,000 spectators, the European and South American champions, Spain and Argentina, will face off in a high-stakes match to decide the world champion title, in the first World Cup final between the two teams, after a long and arduous journey through the biggest tournament in the history of the game.
