FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing renewed scrutiny after a leaked letter praising Argentina‘s performance in the World Cup final surfaced. The letter, sent to Argentine Football Association President Claudio Tapia and verified by the Daily Mail, lauds the ‘professionalism’ of the squad despite a defeat marred by controversy.
Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in extra time—a match where they failed to register a single shot on target inside 90 minutes. Midfielder Enzo Fernández received a needless red card, and the final whistle was followed by an on-field brawl that remains under FIFA investigation. Yet Infantino’s tone in the letter is overwhelmingly positive.
‘I would like to reiterate my most sincere congratulations for this important new result for Argentine soccer,’ Infantino wrote. He described the 2026 World Cup as ‘an unforgettable celebration of football’ and credited the Albiceleste with ‘contributing decisively to making this edition an exceptional event.’
The letter asks Tapia to extend congratulations to players, coach Lionel Scaloni, coaching staff, medical team, and fans. Infantino attributes the result to ‘constant work, professionalism and attention to detail’ and says it ‘augurs a very promising future.’
This praise clashes with the tournament’s controversies. Allegations of favoritism toward Argentina and Lionel Messi have dogged FIFA, though referee chief Pierluigi Collina firmly dismissed them. Argentina’s players drew criticism for a banner reading ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ after the semifinal—a political jab referencing the Falkland Islands war, which FIFA’s rules prohibit.
In the final, Messi tried to get Spain’s Marc Cucurella sent off for covering his mouth, a violation of new rules. Fernández’s first yellow card came from dissent. The post-match brawl added to a list of incidents that critics say Infantino’s letter downplays.
The Daily Mail reports that similar letters were sent to all three medal-winning teams—Spain, Argentina, and England, who beat France for bronze. But the timing and content of Infantino’s message have reignited questions about FIFA’s impartiality. ‘With all my friendship, Gianni Infantino,’ the letter ends.
