The aftermath of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina has spilled into the music world, with Spanish singer Rosalía and American artist Patti Smith facing intense backlash in Argentina over social media posts that were perceived as mocking the Argentine national team. The controversy has led to a cancelled tribute concert, boycott calls, and public apologies.
Rosalía, a Catalan singer known for blending flamenco with pop, shared a TikTok video on 18 December originally posted by influencer Mia Khalifa. The clip featured Rosalía's song "La Perla" with the caption "How life sounds now that the pearls have been defeated." Many Argentine fans interpreted "the pearls" as a reference to the Albiceleste team, which had just lost Spain's extra-time victory.
The video spread rapidly before Rosalía deleted it. Facing an avalanche of criticism, she posted an apology on Instagram Stories: "I hit share because 'La Perla' was playing and I didn't even read what it said, my bad. Sorry," she wrote alongside an Argentine flag. In a subsequent post, she added, "I only have love x Argentina," insisting she had not intended to offend.
Consequences in Córdoba and Buenos Aires
The backlash quickly moved beyond social media. Some Argentine fans began campaigns to sell or return tickets for Rosalía's four scheduled concerts in Buenos Aires in early August, while others urged fans to leave seats empty as a form of protest. More immediately, a symphonic tribute concert to Rosalía in Córdoba—organized by an independent production company with no connection to the artist—was cancelled after the organizers received "numerous messages of hate and anger."
In a statement, the organizers said they understood the anger because "football is not just a sport, it is part of our identity, our history and our culture," but lamented that the tension forced them to call off the event to protect the musicians involved. Rosalía's official concerts in Buenos Aires remain scheduled as announced by the promoter.
Patti Smith, the American singer and poet, also found herself caught in the storm. After the final, she posted a message celebrating Spain's victory and describing Spain as "the good guys," a phrase many Argentine users interpreted as casting the opposing team as villains. The criticism multiplied within hours, and Smith deleted the post. She later shared an image of Lionel Messi and wrote that she had never intended to belittle Argentina or its team. She recalled her long-standing ties with the country, expressed admiration for Messi, and said she deeply regretted that her words were seen as disrespectful.
The row is part of a wider phenomenon that has shaped the conversation after the World Cup final. Argentina's defeat generated intense activity on social media, where celebrations, mockery, nationalist messages, and boycott campaigns against public figures who supported Spain became intertwined. FIFA is investigating post-final clashes and a political banner, while a petition to expel Argentina from the World Cup has neared a Guinness record with 23 million signatures.
In this climate, posts that might otherwise have gone unnoticed took on heightened political and emotional significance. Both Rosalía and Patti Smith chose to delete their posts and offer explanations, but their apologies have not ended the debate. Days after the final whistle, the artists' posts continue to attract both criticism and expressions of support.
