The Brazilian journalist and columnist Julia Duailibi, known for her political commentary in O Globo, recently broke from her usual topics to address a surprising sentiment regarding the World Cup final. On the morning following Argentina’s thrilling semi-final win against England, she expressed her refusal to support Argentina, stating, “I have always been an admirer of the hermanos [as Brazilians affectionately call Argentinians] and would have loved to cheer on a fellow South American team,”
This perspective reflects a broader trend across Latin America, where many are voicing their preference for Spain in the upcoming final. While racism exhibited by a faction of Argentinian supporters is a significant factor, it is not the sole reason behind this shift.
Nicolás Cabrera, an Argentine sociologist and anthropologist specializing in football culture, noted a notable change in attitudes. “But I admit that the racist scenes involving a minority of the fans, and the silence of the majority on the pitch, turned my stomach.” he explained. Historically, this support was primarily reserved for Argentina’s traditional rivals, particularly Brazil, along with Uruguay and Chile, but it has now expanded to include some fans from Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador.
Cabrera elaborated on the emergence of these rifts, attributing them to several factors. Argentina’s recent footballing success, including reaching three of the last four World Cup finals and winning one, has made them a target of resentment from their neighbors. In contrast, nations like Brazil have faced early exits, with Brazil not reaching the final since their fifth title in 2002.
Adding to Argentina’s prominence is Lionel Messi, whose illustrious career has kept him in the spotlight. Even at 39, Messi has displayed remarkable skill throughout this World Cup, further enhancing Argentina’s profile.
Moreover, Cabrera pointed out that the increasing frequency of club matches has intensified rivalries. The Copa Libertadores, once featuring around 20 teams until the 1990s, now has close to 50, leading to more direct encounters and heightened tensions among fans. “In the past, people were more likely to support a Latin American team against a European one, but that has changed quite a lot in recent years,” he noted.
It is increasingly common to see incidents of racism during matches between Argentine and Brazilian clubs, often highlighted by videos of Argentinian fans making monkey gestures towards Brazilians. This behavior has deep historical roots, dating back to a 1920 cartoon that depicted Brazilian players as monkeys. Recently, several Argentinian tourists have faced arrest in Brazil for racial insults, including an individual filmed making monkey gestures at a Black Brazilian while celebrating Argentina’s victory.
Such issues have transcended local rivalries, seeping into the World Cup atmosphere, as evidenced by incidents involving influencers during matches. Duailibi’s decision to address these issues stems from her awareness of Brazil’s own struggles with racism. “Rifts began to appear for several reasons,” she remarked, highlighting Argentina’s lack of explicit laws against racism.
Racism is not the sole problem for Argentina, as recent controversies have also emerged involving national players. Following their Copa América triumph, the Argentinian team engaged in chanting racist and homophobic slurs directed at French players after their World Cup final win. Additionally, an Argentinian journalist faced backlash for expressing hatred towards Mexicans on live television, a comment that drew condemnation from Mexican officials.
Despite these issues, some Brazilians remain steadfast in their support for Argentina. Fábio Luís Barbosa dos Santos, a historian with a focus on Latin America, stated, “As our teams play each other more often, fans start winding each other up,” He pointed out Spain’s colonial history and the racism faced by Brazilian footballer Vinícius Júnior in La Liga. Santos expressed solidarity with Argentina, noting the shared colonial past and recent political struggles of both countries.
He is not alone in his support for Argentina. João Felipe Jr, a 32-year-old ride-hailing driver, plans to travel 270 miles from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo to watch the match at a bar popular among Argentinian fans. “Hate speech, racism, xenophobia and discrimination began to circulate in ways that had previously been more marginal and less visible.” he recalled, dismissing conspiracy theories about favoritism from FIFA. “I know Brazil is not a model in this respect either, that we still have a long way to go when it comes to racism, but at least our legal framework is far more effective than theirs,” he concluded.
