During a House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2026, Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) stated that the FIFA World Cup “captured the imaginations of the entire world when they saw all of these people of color that was playing for all these teams.”

Addressing a witness at the hearing, Crockett remarked, “Ultimately, if you recall, the last two teams, it was Argentina and Spain, and it seemed like the vast majority of the world was rooting for Argentina or actually against Argentina.”

The witness responded, “Spain had the best team, maybe that’s why they were rooting for them,” to which Crockett laughed and added, “There’s also a racist history that exists as it relates to Argentina.”

Crockett’s claim that FIFA World Cup fans rooted against Argentina due to the country’s alleged racist history drew widespread mockery on social media. Tennessee Representative Timothy Burchett quickly moved the hearing along, but online reactions were less forgiving.

Crockett, who is not seeking re-election to her House seat as she runs for Senate, is set to retire from Congress next January.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina took place at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Spain ultimately won the trophy.

Sources