In a striking intersection of global football diplomacy and long-simmering political tensions, multiple senior Israeli politicians took to social media platforms on Wednesday to openly celebrate Argentina’s World Cup semi-final win over England, using the match result as an opportunity to taunt the United Kingdom while highlighting close ties between Israel and Argentina’s new right-wing administration.
The most pointed jab came from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who published his reaction on X within minutes of the final whistle. Smotrich, who was banned from entering the UK last year over his anti-Palestinian political positions, referenced his travel ban in his provocative post: “I indeed cannot enter Britain because I am exterminating the idea of the Palestinian state, but two goals got in nicely,” a nod to the two late match-winning goals Argentina scored against England.
Smotrich went on to extend congratulations to Argentine President Javier Milei, whom he explicitly labeled a close friend of Israel. His far-right coalition partner, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir – who was also sanctioned by the UK alongside Smotrich in 2023 – echoed the celebration. In a post on his own X account, Ben Gvir wrote, “Honour to whom honour is due, and now with faith toward the final.” Hours before kickoff, he had already made his allegiance clear, asking followers, “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?”
The UK’s 2023 sanctions on Smotrich and Ben Gvir came after then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused the two senior ministers of inciting extremist violence and perpetrating serious abuses against Palestinian human rights. Smotrich has spearheaded Israel’s push for de facto annexation of large swathes of the occupied West Bank, while Ben Gvir leads Israel’s prison and detention system – a facility network multiple international human rights organizations have documented as operating what they term “torture camps.” Both men have also been identified as key decision-makers in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has drawn widespread international condemnation for mass civilian casualties.
The political celebration of Argentina’s win was not limited to the two far-right ministers already sanctioned by the UK. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who has Argentine ancestral roots and held talks with Lammy in London last year, joined in the taunting with a playful jab at England’s iconic fan chant. “How does the song go? ‘It’s coming home.’ Yes, it is. It’s coming home to Argentina. Vamos Argentina,” he wrote on X.
Sa’ar is currently based in the United States for a series of diplomatic meetings with Latin American allies of Israel. A formal statement from Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed that alongside discussions about political shifts across Latin America and regional security threats, the delegation “also raised a glass to Argentina’s impressive victory in the World Cup semi-final.”
Israel’s current government has positioned right-wing leaders across Latin America, including Milei, as key strategic allies, with most of these leaders publicly backing Israel’s actions in Gaza. Even ahead of Argentina’s win over England, Sa’ar secured a diplomatic breakthrough during meetings with Colombia’s incoming foreign minister Omar Bula Escobar, where the two sides agreed to restore full diplomatic relations after years of strained ties triggered by Colombia’s criticism of Israel’s Gaza war.
Other senior Israeli figures also publicly backed Argentina ahead of and after the semi-final match. Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon posted a simple, clear message of support: “Vamos Argentina.” Transport Minister Miri Regev, a senior member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party, extended congratulations directly to the Argentine public and Milei, adding, “Keeping my fingers crossed for you in the final” – ahead of Argentina’s upcoming final match against Spain, one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s policies in Europe.
Argentina’s progression to a second consecutive World Cup final, following their 2022 trophy win in Qatar, has not been without controversy. Multiple contentious refereeing decisions throughout the tournament have sparked widespread accusations that FIFA has shown undue favoritism to the South American side. Scrutiny has been particularly intense across the Arab world: after Argentina’s narrow last-16 win over Egypt, Egyptian head coach Hossam Hassan publicly accused FIFA of pushing Argentina through for commercial and marketing reasons, sparking a broad wave of criticism of both the governing body and the Argentine team.