Is FIFA rolling out the red carpet for Argentina? Scaloni has heard the conspiracy… and couldn’t care less

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Hooligan Soccer

·3 de julio de 2026

Is FIFA rolling out the red carpet for Argentina? Scaloni has heard the conspiracy… and couldn’t care less

MIAMI — If there was any doubt that Miami has temporarily become Buenos Aires North, Friday should erase it.

Roughly 65,000 Argentine supporters are expected to pack the Miami Stadium for Argentina’s Round of 32 clash against Cape Verde. And that’s only the lucky ones. Hooligan has learned that more than 50,000 additional Argentine fans — many without tickets — are expected to flood South Florida, turning fan festivals, bars and restaurants into unofficial extensions of the stadium.

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For Lionel Scaloni, it will also be a milestone night. The World Cup-winning coach is set to manage his 100th match in charge of Argentina, fittingly in front of what promises to be a sea of sky blue and white.

Despite Cape Verde being one of the tournament’s biggest surprise packages, Scaloni made it clear his squad isn’t overlooking the African side.

“They’re unbeaten for a reason,” he explained, noting that Cape Verde deserved more from some of its group-stage performances and has proven dangerous on the counterattack. “They’re here on merit.”

Scaloni also embraced the overwhelming support expected from Argentine fans, saying the atmosphere has always given his players an extra push rather than additional pressure.

“Our supporters have always been a strength. The players feel that energy every time they wear the national team shirt. Hopefully they enjoy the match, and we’ll do everything we can to give them something to celebrate.”

A World Cup that feels even longer

Asked about FIFA’s expanded tournament format, Scaloni shrugged off the idea that it dramatically changes the competition.

Yes, there’s another knockout game to survive before reaching the latter stages, but in his eyes the same heavyweight nations remain the favorites. He praised France’s level, highlighted Spain’s quality, and also pointed to Mexico and Colombia as teams capable of making deep runs after impressive performances.

The conspiracy theory refuses to die

Ever since Argentina lifted the World Cup in 2022, one particular internet hobby has refused to disappear: claiming FIFA secretly clears every obstacle from the Albiceleste’s path.

The latest fuel came after Lionel Messi escaped a red card following a challenge against Algeria, instantly reviving social media’s favorite pastime — connecting imaginary dots until they become “proof.”

Scaloni’s response? He essentially treated the theory like spam emails.

He said he doesn’t waste time reading social media because that’s exactly where baseless stories grow out of proportion. According to the Argentine coach, someone posts an opinion, it goes viral within minutes, and suddenly everyone is discussing it as though it were fact. His solution is remarkably simple: don’t read it, don’t feed it.

De Paul expects a patient battle

Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul echoed his coach’s respect for Cape Verde, describing them as an athletic team with dangerous pace that Argentina has carefully analyzed through video sessions.

He stressed that Argentina will likely need patience to break them down while remaining faithful to its own style of play, even if tactical adjustments become necessary throughout the match.

De Paul also admitted many expected Spain or Uruguay to emerge from Cape Verde’s group, but said international football rarely follows the script.

“When the draw was made, everyone expected something different,” he explained. “But football has a way of surprising people. Cape Verde earned this opportunity, and we have to approach the game with complete respect.”