WASHINGTON/NEW YORK — As Argentina and Spain prepare to meet in Sunday’s World Cup final, the contest for soccer’s biggest prize is also being cast by some fans as a proxy battle over Israel and Palestine.That framing has less to do with the teams themselves than with the politics surrounding them.Argentina’s run has been celebrated by some pro-Israel voices who point to Argentine President Javier Milei’s close ties with Israel, while Spain has attracted support from some pro-Palestinian voices because of Madrid’s recognition of Palestine and criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Argentina’s political backdropMilei, a right-wing libertarian, is a staunch supporter of Israel and has visited the country multiple times since taking office in 2023. During a June 2025 visit, he announced plans to relocate Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem. Milei, who has an Italian Catholic background, has said he is interested in converting to Judaism after he leaves office, believing that observing the Jewish Sabbath would conflict with his presidential duties. Speaking on a podcast earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “I look for Argentina in the World Cup,” adding, “Milei is a great friend of Israel.” Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir celebrated Argentina's semifinal victory on Wednesday, writing in Spanish on X, "Honor to whom deserves honor, and now with faith toward the final!" Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar met his Argentine counterpart, Pablo Quirno, in Washington on Wednesday to discuss ties between Israel and Latin America. "And yes, we also raised a glass to Argentina’s impressive victory in the World Cup semifinal," Saar wrote on X after the meeting. Argentina is home to the largest Jewish community in Latin America, with about 170,000 Jews living there.The country has an even larger Arab community, with up to 3 million Argentines claiming Lebanese descent alone. Public opinion of Israel in the Latin American country diverges from official government policy. In Argentina, 55% of people have an unfavorable view of Israel, compared with 21% who have a favorable view.Criticism of Argentina’s national team hasn’t just stemmed from Buenos Aires’ relationship with Israel. The team and its supporters have faced scrutiny over racism. In 2024, the team faced backlash after a video showed players, including midfielder Enzo Fernandez, singing a racist chant targeting French players of African heritage after Argentina’s Copa America victory. Fernandez later apologized for the chant. The incident revived criticism of a chant previously heard among some Argentina supporters before the 2022 World Cup final against France.