What happened after England’s World Cup 2026 exit?
New footage captured by Moroccan-American referee Ismail Elfath shows Jude Bellingham mocking him after England’s 2-1 semi-final loss to Argentina at World Cup 2026. The match saw controversial decisions that favored Argentina despite 15 fouls committed by the South Americans. Bellingham told Elfath after the final whistle: "There were some bold and shocking decisions, but I wish you all the best," referring to calls that went Argentina’s way.
How did tensions escalate after the game?
The clashes didn’t end with Bellingham and Elfath. Cristian Romero was seen provoking Bellingham, who responded by slapping Valentin Barco on the back of the head. Barco pushed back, and the confrontation escalated to include Nicolás Otamendi of Real Madrid before Argentine teammates intervened to cool tempers.
Argentina’s post-win controversies: political banners spark outrage
Argentina didn’t stop at the win. Players including Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Giovani Lo Celso, and Lionel Messi celebrated with a banner reading "Falkland Islands are Argentine," violating FIFA’s ban on political displays. A YouGov poll showed Messi’s net favorability among Britons dropped from +46 before the tournament to -15 after it.
What’s next? Potential sanctions loom
Bellingham faces possible disciplinary action from FIFA over his post-match conduct. Meanwhile, Argentina has faced no consequences despite clear violations.Last result: France 2-0 Morocco (2026-07-09).
