World Cup: Argentina Were Ordered to Lose Against Spain — Psychologist

An Argentine psychologist has alleged that Argentina’s national team was instructed to lose the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain, claiming the match displayed unusual patterns that went beyond normal football tactics.

The controversial claim followed Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday.

After a goalless 90 minutes, Spain secured the title in extra time when forward Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute, handing La Roja their second FIFA World Cup triumph after their success in South Africa in 2010.

The psychologist, whose comments were published in a video shared by Argentine news outlet MDZ, argued that Argentina’s overall approach to the game appeared abnormal.

She maintained that several aspects of the team’s performance raised questions, particularly their attacking display throughout the encounter.

According to available match statistics, Argentina failed to register a single shot on target during both regulation and extra time, becoming the first team in World Cup final history to record no shot on target in the opening 90 minutes of a final.

Captain Lionel Messi, who entered the final after contributing eight goals and four assists in seven matches, was also largely subdued.

The Inter Miami forward managed only one shot during the entire match, with the effort blocked before troubling the Spanish goalkeeper.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez produced an impressive performance between the posts, making 11 saves as Lionel Scaloni’s side adopted a cautious and defensive approach for most of the encounter.

Reacting to the performance, the psychologist suggested that the outcome was predetermined.

“There’s no doubt that the Argentine National Team was ordered to lose. As a psychologist, I’m trained to see and hear what’s left unsaid. And in Sunday’s match, I saw strange things. They treated us like fools and put on a show,” she said in the video.

No evidence has been presented to support the allegation, and neither the Argentine Football Association nor FIFA has responded to the claim.

The defeat marked Argentina’s fourth loss in a FIFA World Cup final after previous defeats in 1930, 1990 and 2014.

The result also made Argentina only the second nation to lose four World Cup finals, joining Germany, who finished runners-up in 1966, 1982, 1986 and 2002.