Netanyahu has voiced his support for Argentina in the World Cup final against Spain [Getty]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared his support for Argentina ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain.
The prime minister’s office posted photos of Netanyahu holding an Argentina football shirt alongside Buenos Aires’ ambassador to Israel, Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish.
Wahnish delivered an audio message from Argentina’s pro-Israel President Javier Milei praising Netanyahu as his “friend”.
The Israeli leader reportedly responded: “Javier, you are a friend. A true friend. You are a great friend, we support you, we support Argentina in so many ways, including tomorrow. Good luck!”
Netanyahu said he is joined by most Israelis in wanting Argentina to lift the trophy at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
“I don’t hide it that I’m a fan of Argentina, I think most Israeli citizens do. That is because President Milei has revolutionised Israel’s relationship with Argentina, and we have no greater nor better friends,” Netanyahu said.
Argentina has become Israel’s closest ally in South America since the far-right Milei came to power in 2023.
Milei is an outspoken supporter of Zionism and has travelled to Israel three times since being elected president.
The most recent visit came in April 2026, when he confirmed plans to relocate the Argentinian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Some observers have portrayed Sunday’s final as analogous to the Israel-Palestine conflict, pitting Argentina against one of Europe’s most trenchant Israel critics.
Pedro Sanchez’s left-wing government has responded to Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza and expansion in the West Bank by severing all military ties with Israel and banning trade with Israeli settlements.
In 2024, Spain was among a handful of European countries to recognise a Palestinian state and is now leading efforts to impose EU-wide sanctions on Israel.
The government’s pro-Palestine position has occasionally been voiced by major figures in Spanish football.
Spanish star Lamine Yamal earned praise from Sanchez in May when he waved a Palestinian flag on an open-top bus during Barcelona’s La Liga title parade.
Meanwhile, former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made several public statements condemning what he described as the “genocide in Palestine”.
In Israel, members of Netanyahu’s far-right government have cheered Argentina’s progression through the competition.
“I indeed cannot enter Britain because I am exterminating the idea of the Palestinian state, but two goals got in nicely,” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote on social media following Argentina’s 2-1 semi-final victory against England.
Ahead of the match, extremist national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote: “Do I really have to explain to you why I pray with all my heart for Argentina to win tonight and make it into the final?”
