Argentina fans launch petition to replay the World Cup 2026 final. Here's why

A section of Argentina supporters has launched an online petition calling on FIFA to replay the 2026 World Cup final, with the campaign rapidly gaining traction after the defeat to Spain. The petition, created by fan Gisela Sanchez on Change.org, raises concerns over the officiating of Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, claiming that several key decisions during the final had a decisive impact on the result. Argentina were beaten by Spain in the final 1-0 in what was a one-sided affair.According to a report from Bein Sport, In the petition, Sanchez argues that video footage from the match shows a pattern of decisions that allegedly favoured one side and influenced the flow of the contest. She says those calls left players, coaching staff, and supporters feeling deeply disappointed.The appeal urges FIFA to conduct a thorough and transparent review of the officiating in the final. It also asks the governing body to consider staging the match again, alleging that the outcome was affected by biased refereeing.Describing the campaign as a fight for fairness "not only for Argentina, but for the future of world football," the petition has already attracted more than 67,500 signatures. WHAT DID SCALONI SAY ABOUT REFEREEING IN FINAL?One of the most-talked-about moments from the game was the tackle from Enzo Fernandez on Pau Cubarsi, which earned him a red card after being booked for the second time. While fans were unhappy with the referee's performance, coach Lionel Scaloni said that Spain was the better team at the end of the day and no blame should be put on Vincic."Was the officiating unfair?" No, we lost because Spain were better than us," Scaloni told reporters upon his return to Argentina.CAN FIFA REPLAY A WORLD CUP FINAL? Despite its growing support, the campaign has no legal or regulatory standing. Petitions hosted on platforms such as Change.org cannot compel FIFA to overturn an official result or order a replay.Under football's laws and FIFA regulations, a World Cup final can only be replayed in highly exceptional circumstances, and only if authorised by the sport's governing bodies following the appropriate legal and disciplinary processes.FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | Football News - EndsPublished On: Jul 23, 2026 12:07 IST