{"id":12179,"date":"2026-07-21T03:42:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T22:42:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=12179"},"modified":"2026-07-21T03:42:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T22:42:23","slug":"samuel-l-jackson-declares-argentina-racist-after-controversial-world-cup-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=12179","title":{"rendered":"Samuel L Jackson declares Argentina &#8216;racist&#8217; after controversial World Cup final"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_226983351-d966.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29185084\" alt=\"Mandatory Credit: Photo by Bonnie Cash\/UPI\/Shutterstock (14817281a) Actor Samuel L. Jackson speaks during a campaign rally with Vice President Kamala Harris and Former president Barack Obama at the James R Hallford Stadium in Clarkston, Georgia on Thursday, October 24, 2024. Democratic Presidential Nominee VP Harris and Former President Obama Speak at Georgia Campaign Rally, Clarkston, United States - 24 Oct 2024\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Samuel L Jackson was firmly backing Spain to win the World Cup (Picture: Bonnie Cash\/UPI\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/samuel-l-jackson\/\">Samuel L Jackson<\/a>\u2019s feelings on the 2026 <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/world-cup\/\">World Cup<\/a> result are seemingly clear after he urged Black people \u2018not to cheer\u2019 for Argentina.<\/p>\n<p>Last night,\u00a0Lionel Scaloni\u2019s Argentina squad\u00a0was defeated 1-0 in extra time, leaving Spain, managed by Luis de la Fuente, to lift the trophy (<a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/20\/spain-star-praised-standing-up-donald-trump-spain-trophy-lift-29179498\/\">presented to them by Donald Trump<\/a>) at <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/new-york\/\">New York<\/a> New Jersey Stadium.<\/p>\n<p>Anticipation was rife ahead of the game, with the likes of <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/david-beckham\/\">David Beckham<\/a> and his family in attendance to see how the tournament would end.<\/p>\n<p>And in his own <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/social-media\/\">social media<\/a> post before kickoff, Jackson implored his fans to back Spain.<\/p>\n<p>The 77-year-old actor reshared a post from the SEC Black Alumni Network\u00a0on his <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/instagram\/\">Instagram<\/a> Story, which featured an AI-generated image of his character, Stephen, from the 2012 movie Django Unchained.<\/p>\n<p>Directed by <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/quentin-tarantino\/\">Quentin Tarantino<\/a>, the Western\/action movie follows a vengeful husband who joins forces with a German bounty hunter\u00a0to rescue his wife from a Mississippi plantation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"555\" height=\"895\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305884709-e853.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=555\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29185074\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>The actor reposted an AI-generated image on his Instagram Story (Picture: Instagram\/Samuel L Jackson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the image he shared, Jackson\u2019s Stephen wears an Argentina football shirt, accompanied by the text: \u2018Dear Black People\u2026 Please do not cheer or root for Argentina to win the <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/fifa-video-game\/\">FIFA<\/a> World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Argentina has historically been one of, if not the most racist countries in the world.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018\u201dIf you are a Black person cheering for Argentina, this is what you look like to me.\u201d\u2018<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We hear you loud and clear,\u2019 it ended.<\/p>\n<p>Jackson\u2019s repost soon circulated, with some Argentine fans calling it \u2018outrageous\u2019 and accusing him of falling for \u2018anti-Argentina propaganda\u2019 despite \u2018evidently not knowing much about history\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>The American movie star and producer, whose films have collectively grossed more than $27billion (\u00a320bn) worldwide, has long used his platform to speak out against <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/racism\/\">racism<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_303881223-c761.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29185085\" alt=\"ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 03: Samuel L. Jackson attends the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Australia and Egypt at Dallas Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Hector Vivas - FIFA\/FIFA via Getty Images)\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Jackson attended the tournament, pictured here in Arlington, Texas, on July 3 (Picture: Hector Vivas \u2013 FIFA\/FIFA via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In 2023, he told Rolling Stone: \u2018When I grew up in segregation, I knew which white people didn\u2019t want to be bothered with me, and I knew how they felt about me.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>He added that, when he \u2018sees Trump\u2019, he sees \u2018the same rednecks\u2019 who called him racist slurs when he was younger to \u2018keep [him] in [his] place\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018That\u2019s what the Republican Party is to me. They\u2019re doing it to young people, gay people. They don\u2019t care who you are. If you\u2019re not them, you\u2019re the enemy.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Argentina had a tumultuous journey to the World Cup final. Despite being the last Latin American team\u00a0standing, many football fans across the region rooted against them, citing racism and arrogance.<\/p>\n<p><a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/20\/lionel-messi-breaks-silence-immense-pain-argentina-world-cup-final-loss-29185200\/\">Led by Lionel Messi in their blue and white stripes<\/a>, the team faced particular resistance from audiences in Mexico, with whom Argentina has a layered rivalry, since they have not lost to Mexico since 2004. Cultural resentments also played a part.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, though, some Mexican fans expressed remorse about the wave of anti-Argentine opinions and how they\u2019ve played out online, often in very unruly manners.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"461\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2286811567.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29185247\" alt=\"Spain v Argentina: Final - FIFA World Cup 2026\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Led by Lionel Messi, Argentina lost to Spain in the final over the weekend (Picture: Maja Hitij \u2013 FIFA\/FIFA via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"417\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2286809774.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29181299\" alt=\"Spain v Argentina: Final - FIFA World Cup 2026\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>They lifted the trophy after scoring in extra time (Picture: Carl Recine\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Meanwhile, Brazilian journalist and columnist Julia Duailibi, who writes for leading Brazilian newspaper O Globo, penned after Argentina beat England in the semi-final: \u2018I have always been an admirer of the\u00a0hermanos\u00a0[an affectionate term for Argentinians] and would have loved to cheer on a fellow South American team.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018But I admit that the racist scenes involving a minority of the fans and the silence of the majority on the pitch turned my stomach.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, racist actions from some fans were captured during the World Cup, with an investigation ultimately launched by FIFA into alleged racist abuse involving American social media influencer IShowSpeed and a supporter during Argentina\u2019s win against Cape Verde.<\/p>\n<p>IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr, 21, has over 100million followers across his platforms and live-streamed matches during the\u00a0tournament. FIFA president Gianni Infantino and ex-Barcelona and AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107 featured in some.<\/p>\n<p>The alleged incident took place on July 3 after the last-32 game, after which the governing body \u2018immediately\u2019 initiated a probe.<\/p>\n<p>Footage showed the internet personality wearing a Cape Verde kit and being confronted by an Argentina fan in the stands.<\/p>\n<p>FIFA said in a subsequent statement: \u2018The FIFA World Cup is a celebration of unity, diversity, and respect.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It brings together people, cultures, and communities from around the world, and anyone who acts in a manner that undermines these values is not welcome in our game.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Reps for Samuel L Jackson have been contacted for comment.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/20\/fifa-reveal-investigation-wild-scenes-world-cup-final-29185440\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">FIFA reveal investigation into the wild scenes after World Cup final<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/20\/mad-tattoo-marc-cucurella-promised-get-spain-won-world-cup-29183508\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">The mad tattoo Marc Cucurella has promised to get after Spain won World Cup<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/20\/shocking-reason-morgan-rogers-snubbed-arsenal-117m-chelsea-transfer-29176489\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">The surprising reason Morgan Rogers snubbed Arsenal for \u00a3117m Chelsea transfer<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\"><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-comments\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" class=\"metro-button share-bar-preferred-source\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Samuel L Jackson was firmly backing Spain to win the World Cup (Picture: Bonnie Cash\/UPI\/Shutterstock) Samuel L Jackson\u2019s feelings on the 2026 World Cup result are seemingly clear after he urged Black people \u2018not to cheer\u2019 for Argentina. Last night,\u00a0Lionel Scaloni\u2019s Argentina squad\u00a0was defeated 1-0 in extra time, leaving Spain, managed by Luis de la&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_226983351-d966_1784576482.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1200&h=630&crop=1","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12179"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12179\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}