Black Americans' Mixed Feelings on Argentina's World Cup Win
WHO:
The Guardian - Black Americans, Argentina's national team, Lionel Messi, Samuel L. Jackson, Javier Milei, Benjamin Netanyahu, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams
WHAT:
The Guardian - Samuel L. Jackson stated that Argentina's fanbase has repeatedly become associated with racist incidents, including videos of fans hurling racial epithets and singing a racist chant targeting Black players.
The Guardian - Jackson labeled Argentina as "historically" racist after the World Cup final.
The Guardian - President Javier Milei of Argentina has openly embraced positions that align closely with Trump and has offered support for Israel amid ongoing conflicts.
The Guardian - Benjamin Netanyahu expressed that he was not rooting for Messi but rather for Milei, calling him a "superstar."
The Guardian - Many Black Americans were emotionally invested in seeing Argentina lose the World Cup final against Spain.
The Guardian - Argentina's fanbase has been associated with racist incidents, including videos of fans hurling racial epithets and singing a racist chant.
Washington Times - Samuel L. Jackson labeled Argentina as "historically" racist after the World Cup final.
WHERE:
The Guardian - Argentina, specifically mentioning Llavallol, where a hamburger business uses a racially offensive name.
WHY:
The Guardian - The emotional investment against Argentina among Black Americans stemmed from the country's association with racism and the silence of key figures like Messi regarding these incidents.
The Guardian - The emotional investment against Argentina stemmed from their association with racism and the silence of key figures like Messi regarding these incidents.
The Guardian - The actions of Argentina's fans and the political stance of President Javier Milei contributed to the negative perception among Black Americans.
HOW:
The Guardian - The article discusses how the actions of Argentina's fans and the political stance of President Milei contributed to the negative perception among Black Americans.
The Guardian - The article discusses how sports and politics intersect, highlighting that silence from athletes on racism can be seen as complicity.
(UPDATED July 22, 2026 22:23 UTC)
Samuel L. Jackson has called out Argentina's fanbase for its repeated association with racist incidents, including videos of fans using racial slurs and singing a chant targeting Black players, labeling the country as "historically" racist following the World Cup final. Meanwhile, President Javier Milei has aligned himself with Trump and expressed support for Israel during ongoing conflicts, prompting Benjamin Netanyahu to refer to Milei as a "superstar" rather than rooting for Messi. This situation has fueled emotional investment against Argentina among Black Americans, who feel let down by the silence of prominent figures like Messi regarding these troubling incidents.
--
(UPDATED July 22, 2026 13:28 UTC)
Many Black Americans were emotionally invested in seeing Argentina lose the World Cup final against Spain, largely due to the team's association with racist incidents and the silence of key figures like Lionel Messi on these issues. Samuel L. Jackson has labeled Argentina as "historically" racist, further fueling the negative perception among Black Americans, especially in light of the actions of Argentina's fans and the political stance of President Javier Milei. The situation highlights how sports and politics intersect, emphasizing that silence from athletes regarding racism can be interpreted as complicity.