After Spain clinched the 2026 FIFA World Cup title, the debate over refereeing decisions continues to stir emotions in Argentina, with tens of thousands of fans calling for the final to be replayed.

Spain emerged champions for the second time in their history after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final held at the MetLife Stadium. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, converting a pass from Nico Williams to seal the victory in extra time. The tournament was co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic found himself at the centre of controversy throughout the match. Argentina’s players argued that both Mac Allister and Nicolas Tagliafico avoided bookings for serious fouls, while Spain saw goals from Nico Williams and Ferran Torres disallowed.

The defeat denied Argentina captain Lionel Messi the chance to lift the trophy in what he confirmed would be his final appearance for the national team. The Inter Miami star also missed out on the Golden Boot, as Kylian Mbappe set a new record by reaching 22 World Cup goals to become the tournament’s all-time top scorer.

England finished third, marking their best World Cup performance since their 1966 triumph, after a 6-4 win over France in the third-place play-off.

Meanwhile, calls for a replay of the final have gained traction. As reported by Brazilian outlet Globo, Argentine supporter Gisela Sanchez questioned the integrity of Slavko Vincic’s performance. She urged FIFA to review the referee’s decisions, which she claimed influenced the outcome of the match.

Sanchez’s petition on Change.org, demanding a replay of the final, has garnered more than 61,000 signatures. Although no concrete evidence was presented to support her claims, many Argentine fans have echoed her call to replay the game, which was decided in extra time.

This is not the first time such demands have surfaced during a World Cup. A similar petition from French supporters collected over 82,000 signatures seeking a replay of their semi-final against Spain, citing a refereeing error that led to Spain’s penalty goal in that match.

In a separate development, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has officially denied reports suggesting that its president, Claudio Tapia, was summoned by the American judiciary. The AFA described these claims as unfounded rumours in a statement released on its website.

According to multiple media outlets, U.S. authorities are investigating commercial agreements linked to the AFA worth more than 300 million dollars. The probe follows raids conducted at the association’s offices last December.

The AFA’s statement clarified: “The allegations regarding the confiscation of Tapia’s assets, including his mobile phones and electronic devices, are false and baseless.”

The association further confirmed that neither Tapia nor treasurer Pablo Toviggino was subject to any summons. Instead, the summons was directed at a third party whose identity was not disclosed. That individual was ordered to appear before a grand jury and to provide documents and correspondence related to several AFA officials.

FIFA has also launched an investigation into the post-match events that followed Spain’s victory over Argentina. According to Sky Sports, the disciplinary inquiry focuses on unsporting conduct by Argentina’s Leandro Paredes and Ayala, who allegedly clashed with several Spanish players immediately after the final whistle.

The confrontation erupted on the pitch at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey shortly after the match ended. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni intervened swiftly to separate the players and de-escalate tensions, preventing the situation from worsening.

However, video replays captured an unpleasant altercation involving Argentina players and Spain midfielder Pablo Gavi before Scaloni stepped in. The footage showed Leandro Paredes appearing to grab and throw Gavi to the ground in what resembled a wrestling manoeuvre — an incident that shocked viewers around the world.