Samuel L. Jackson has been a vocal supporter of Spain in the 2026 World Cup, urging Black people not to cheer for Argentina in a recent social media post.
The 77-year-old actor reshared a post from the SEC Black Alumni Network on his Instagram Story, featuring an AI-generated image of his character, Stephen, from the 2012 movie Django Unchained.
In the image, Jackson's Stephen wears an Argentina football shirt, accompanied by a message that reads: "Dear Black People... Please do not cheer or root for Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup. Argentina has historically been one of, if not the most racist countries in the world."
Jackson's post has sparked a heated debate, with some Argentine fans calling it "outrageous" and accusing him of falling for "anti-Argentina propaganda" despite "evidently not knowing much about history."
However, Jackson has long used his platform to speak out against racism, and in 2023, he told a leading publication that he saw racism as a pervasive issue in American society, saying: "When I grew up in segregation, I knew which white people didn't want to be bothered with me, and I knew how they felt about me."
Argentina's tumultuous journey to the World Cup final has been marked by controversy, with many football fans across the region rooting against them, citing racism and arrogance.
The team faced particular resistance from audiences in Mexico, with whom Argentina has a layered rivalry, and cultural resentments also played a part.
Meanwhile, Brazilian journalist and columnist Julia Duailibi wrote that she had always been an admirer of Argentine fans, but the racist scenes involving a minority of the fans during the World Cup had turned her stomach.
An investigation was launched by FIFA into alleged racist abuse involving an American social media influencer and a supporter during Argentina's win against Cape Verde.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino and ex-Barcelona and AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimović featured in some of the live-streamed matches, and the governing body has stated that the World Cup is a celebration of unity, diversity, and respect, and that anyone who acts in a manner that undermines these values is not welcome in the game.
