Spain's qualification for the 2026 World Cup final opens the door to a scenario with significant political implications. If Argentina defeats England in the second semi-final, the title match would bring together two national teams whose governments maintain one of the most tense relationships in recent years.
Although the final will be decided solely by what happens on the field, the political context would turn the encounter into much more than a sporting duel.
The diplomatic crisis between Sánchez and Milei remains open
Relations between the governments of Pedro Sánchez and Javier Milei have been undergoing a period of severe strain since 2024.
The tension reached its peak after Milei described Begoña Gómez as "corrupt" during a political rally held in Madrid. The crisis led the Spanish government to temporarily recall its ambassador to Buenos Aires and sparked one of the biggest diplomatic conflicts between the two countries in decades.
Although diplomatic representation was restored over the months, high-level political contacts have practically disappeared.
Milei has visited Spain six times without meeting Sánchez
Since taking office at the Casa Rosada, Javier Milei has traveled to Spain on several occasions. However, on none of his most recent visits has he held official meetings with Pedro Sánchez or members of the Spanish government, reflecting the existing institutional distance between the two administrations.
His last trip to Madrid again took place without meetings with the Prime Minister, focusing his agenda on academic, economic, and political events.
Rapport with Ayuso, in contrast to Moncloa
While the relationship with the central government remains practically frozen, Javier Milei has strengthened his ties with the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso.
Both leaders have coincided at numerous public events over the past two years and have repeatedly exchanged praise. Ayuso decorated Milei during one of his visits to Madrid and later met with him again at the Casa Rosada, where they both advocated for collaboration between Argentina and the Community of Madrid.
This contrast between institutional closeness with the Madrid government and the absence of relations with Moncloa has been a constant since the Argentine president came to power.
A final with an inevitable political reading
If Argentina manages to qualify for the final, the match against Spain will take place in a very different context than usual.
On one side will be the Government of Pedro Sánchez, which has had numerous disagreements with Javier Milei. On the other, an Argentine president who has turned Spain into one of the international stages where he has most projected his political discourse and who has found in Isabel Díaz Ayuso one of his main institutional allies in Europe.
None of this will influence the development of the match, which will be decided exclusively on the pitch, but it does add a symbolic component to a possible final between two countries whose political relations have repeatedly made headlines in recent years.
Argentina must first overcome England
That scenario, however, still depends on the second semifinal of the World Cup.
Argentina will have to defeat England to become Spain's rival in the final. If the English team qualifies, the geopolitical component derived from the relationship between Milei and the Spanish government will take a back seat, and it will be England who disputes the title against Luis de la Fuente's team.