Argentine President Javier Mele sparked a new controversy after accusing the governments of Brazil and Mexico, along with the US Democratic Party, of funding what he described as a "campaign against Argentina" during the 2026 World Cup.
Miley's remarks came in an interview with Radio Mitre, where he said that the Brazilian government had the largest share of the alleged funding, claiming that 25% of the resources used in this campaign came from Brazil.
He added that Mexico and the Democratic Party in the United States also participated in funding the campaign, considering that the parties behind it represent progressive currents that "do not want the ideas of freedom to succeed."
The Argentine president appears to be referring to the wave of criticism directed at his country and its national team during the World Cup, which included accusations of racism against some Argentine fans, as well as widespread controversy on social media regarding claims that the team received preferential treatment from referees during the tournament.
Some publications also sparked criticism regarding the positions of figures linked to the Israeli government on the Argentine national team, which contributed to widening the debate about the team beyond the limits of sports competition.
Milli believes that these criticisms were not spontaneous, but rather part of an organized campaign targeting Argentina and his political project, considering that the success of the Argentine economy and the improvement in the conditions of citizens represent a reason for his opponents’ desire to attack him.
Despite the harsh tone used by the Argentine president, he did not provide any public evidence to prove that the governments of Brazil, Mexico, or the US Democratic Party funded an organized campaign against Argentina.
In fact, Argentine researcher Natalia Arrugete, who specializes in analyzing social media and political agendas, said that she had not seen evidence of a large-scale, coordinated operation, although she acknowledged the existence of a broad, hostile, and cross-border debate against Argentina.
An analysis of more than two million social media posts also revealed recurring patterns in the discourse, but researchers cautioned against considering this sufficient evidence of an organized international campaign.
Milley's remarks come at a highly sensitive time, after relations between Argentina and Brazil entered a new phase of tension.
During his visit to Brazil to support the candidacy of Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, the Argentine president attacked his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and described him in offensive terms, prompting the Brazilian Foreign Ministry to recall its ambassador in Buenos Aires for consultations.
Then, Miley escalated his accusations, asserting that Brazil was the biggest source of attacks targeting Argentina in recent times.
Thus, the controversy surrounding Argentina’s participation in the World Cup is no longer just a sporting issue, having become fodder for the political and diplomatic conflict between Milli and his regional rivals.
Political analysts suggest that Milli's adoption of the "anti-Argentine campaign" narrative may also serve to divert attention towards external adversaries at a time when his government is facing internal challenges and a decline in its popularity.
Thus, after the end of the World Cup, it seems that the controversy surrounding Argentina did not end with the final whistle, but rather moved from the stadiums to the political arena, with serious accusations that Meli has not yet publicly proven.
