NafisaThe Argentine Football Association (AFA) is reportedly preparing a major legal response following what it believes was a widespread misinformation campaign targeting the national team and several of its players during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, something the English media has been doing provocatively since the semis.
Since Argentina’s World Cup semi-final against England, several sections of the English media and many high-profile social media accounts have repeatedly questioned the team’s conduct, refereeing decisions, and player behaviour.
Following the tournament, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has now responded by considering legal action over what it describes as a coordinated misinformation campaign.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the AFA’s legal team is gathering evidence against media outlets, social media accounts and individuals accused of spreading false allegations, manipulated images and claims made without evidence, with defamation lawsuits now being explored.
The federation is seriously considering launching defamation lawsuits against individuals, media organisations and social media accounts accused of spreading false claims throughout the tournament.
The proposed legal action would reportedly focus on allegations made without evidence, manipulated or unverified images, and other misleading content that the AFA believes damaged the reputation of both the national team and its players.
Romano revealed that Argentina’s football authorities are determined to pursue the matter aggressively rather than allowing the controversy to fade away.
He posted on social media: “AFA is considering taking LEGAL ACTION over the misinformation campaign against Argentina and their players during the World Cup.
“There could be defamation lawsuits that would focus on false allegations, manipulated or unverified images, and accusations made without evidence.
“The Argentina Football Federation will go ALL IN. They will not only target big media outlets, but also accounts on X, IG, and many more outlets.
“AFA legal team is collecting evidence, posts, and other material.”
The update suggests the AFA’s legal department has already begun gathering online posts, articles, videos and other digital evidence that could be used in future legal proceedings if the federation decides to proceed with formal action.
While the governing body has not yet confirmed exactly who could face legal action, Romano’s report indicates that the investigation extends beyond traditional media outlets and includes social media users who allegedly published or shared false information during the World Cup.
Argentina found themselves at the centre of several controversies throughout the tournament, with numerous incidents generating heated debate across television, online platforms and social media. The federation now appears determined to challenge what it believes crossed the line from criticism into defamation.
If the lawsuits move forward, they could become one of the biggest legal crackdowns by a national football association against alleged misinformation surrounding an international tournament.
For now, the AFA continues to collect evidence before deciding its next legal steps, but the message from Argentina is clear: the federation intends to defend the reputation of its players and will not hesitate to pursue legal action against those it believes spread false or misleading claims during the World Cup.
Nafisa
