A widely circulated video clip of FIFA President Gianni Infantino sparked widespread controversy on social media following Argentina's thrilling 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde in the 2026 World Cup, with users claiming Infantino said he 'suffered with Argentina,' which was seen as evidence of his bias towards the title holders.

According to a report published by the Spanish newspaper Marca, the circulating claim is inaccurate, as a full review of the video and correct translation of Infantino's remarks showed that the FIFA president did not show any bias, but rather expressed empathy for the tension that permeated the thrilling match.

In his short speech in Spanish, Infantino said he 'felt his heart race like everyone else' during the match, congratulating the Argentine fans on the victory, noting that 'everyone who followed the match, even neutral observers, experienced moments of excitement and suspense.'

His words did not include any indication of support for either team.

The misquote spread after accounts on social media platforms shared short video clips taken out of context, focusing on words that appeared to be 'they suffered with Argentina.'

This cherry-picking led to a wave of criticism against Infantino and accusations of violating the expected principle of neutrality in his position, before it became clear that the statements were misunderstood due to inaccurate translation and deliberate out-of-context editing.

Infantino's remarks came after one of the tournament's most exciting matches, as Argentina needed extra time to overcome the stubborn Cape Verde team in a match described as one of the biggest tension moments in the title defense campaign.

The African team put strong pressure on the title holders until the final minutes, making the match charged with emotion and excitement, the context that the FIFA president spoke about when he referred to the 'heart palpitations' that everyone felt that night.