FIFA Investigates Racism Allegations During World Cup Match

FIFA is looking into allegations of off-field racism linked to Argentina’s World Cup victory against Cape Verde on Friday.

This particular incident unfolded during a Round of 32 matchup in Miami, involving the well-known streamer IShowSpeed and a fan donned in an Argentina jersey. During IShowSpeed’s livestream, a voice was heard questioning the black YouTuber about something he had just said, with various reports suggesting the fan told him to “go to the zoo” in Spanish.

In a statement, FIFA expressed its strong condemnation of all forms of racism, hatred, and discrimination. The organization emphasized that such behavior should not be tolerated in football, within the FIFA World Cup, or in broader society. They acknowledged awareness of the incident involving supporters and IShowSpeed at the Miami Stadium during the match on July 3, 2026, and have launched an investigation.

“The FIFA World Cup represents unity, diversity, and respect, connecting people, cultures, and communities worldwide. Anyone acting contrary to these values has no place in our game,” FIFA remarked.

IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., has yet to comment publicly on the situation. With over 50 million subscribers on YouTube, 45 million on Instagram, and 47 million on TikTok, he has become quite a prominent figure. Recently, he has been streaming during World Cup matches, featuring appearances from FIFA president Gianni Infantino and former soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

This investigation by FIFA comes soon after a Paraguayan senator made a deeply racist remark regarding French player Kylian Mbappé after France’s victory over Paraguay on July 4. Mbappé responded to these comments, deeming them “despicable,” while the French Football Federation announced plans to take legal action against the senator for his social media remarks.