The 2026 World Cup, held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, came to an end after Spain conquered the coveted FIFA trophy and achieved football glory. Over several weeks of intense competition, the national teams sought to showcase their best version led by their main figures, also driven by the unconditional support of thousands of fans who passionately experienced each day of the biggest football festival. However, Argentina‘s bitter defeat in the final not only generated discomfort among fans in that country but also among various Argentine figures. On this occasion, Julián Zucchi took to his social media to express his sadness over the Albiceleste’s defeat and questioned users who celebrated the fall of the team led by Lionel Scaloni, sparking a strong controversy as many interpreted his comments as a presumed indirect jab at Peru. In the following note, we tell you everything you need to know about it.
WHAT MESSAGE FROM JULIÁN ZUCCHI SPARKED CONTROVERSY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER ARGENTINA’S DEFEAT?
This Sunday, July 19, millions of Argentines were dismayed after their national team’s 1-0 defeat against Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, a result that unleashed a wave of reactions among fans, public figures, and social media users. This is the case of Julián Zucchi, who has lived in Peru for years and used his official Instagram account to highlight the achievements Argentina has made throughout this time, including its World Cup finals, Copa América titles, and other outstanding performances. However, what most caught the attention of internet users was the message he published through his stories, in which he addressed those people who mock the defeat of the runner-up team.
@riclatorrez #julianzucchi annoyed with those who mock #argentina’s defeat against #spain in the #mundial2026 . #peru ♬ sonido original – Ric La Torre
“To all those who today celebrate Argentina’s loss, how curious to have to celebrate someone else’s defeat because your own history is not enough. We reached another World Cup final, the seventh, we won three World Cups, we competed again, so before mocking, first get there, then win something, and only then do we talk. Envy is also a form of admiration,” Zucchi wrote. However, the controversy intensified even further because numerous users accused the artist of not knowing how to lose and questioned his reaction to the match result. Faced with this, the Argentine, true to his controversial style, defended his position with a forceful response that quickly generated various reactions: “Did I talk about Peru or are you the one who feels alluded to? Does it hurt? Who feels alluded to?”
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WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT LIONEL SCALONI’S CONTINUITY WITH THE ARGENTINE NATIONAL TEAM?
After finishing as runners-up in the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Scaloni, coach of the Argentine national team, spoke to local media about his future with the team. The coach began by highlighting that taking over the national team was one of the biggest challenges and achievements of his career, due to the enormous relevance and historical trajectory that characterizes the Albiceleste. However, regarding the sports press’s doubt about his continuity, the 48-year-old former footballer made it clear that his intention is to remain at the helm of the squad until December, the month his contract concludes. Therefore, he explained that he will hold a meeting with the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) then to define his future.
“I will continue until December and then, surely, I will talk to the president. The idea is to relax and stop for a bit. This is a spectacular, dream place. Hopefully, there will be people who have the opportunity to be here, any Argentine would wish to be here. It has been a pleasure to be here, a source of pride. In my best dreams, I hadn’t thought of it. No, until December and then surely I’ll cut. […] I have to talk to the president. This is an incredible, spectacular, beautiful place, but it demands a lot of things and well, we’ll see. I tell you that I will be here until December,” he revealed when asked by the newspaper Olé.
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