A repost by Rosalía drew intense criticism in Argentina, where many interpreted the video as mocking the national football team. The Catalan singer shared a clip originally posted by influencer Mia Khalifa, who was celebrating Spain’s World Cup victory from a New York balcony. The video featured Rosalía’s track “La Perla” and text suggesting that life had changed now that “las Perlas,” a reference to the Argentine team, had been defeated. The song is associated with Rosalía’s album LUX, and later coverage named it among the album’s prominent tracks.
Reaction in Argentina was swift. Social media platforms filled with criticism, as many users accused Rosalía of disrespecting the Argentine squad. The backlash escalated quickly. Although the singer deleted the post soon after, it had already gained impressive traction. Calls for an organized boycott of her upcoming Buenos Aires concerts began to circulate. Some fans demanded ticket refunds, while others proposed leaving the venue empty as a form of protest.
Rosalía’s Buenos Aires tour is scheduled to begin on August 1, with four concerts planned at the Movistar Arena. As criticism mounted, she broke her silence with a brief message on her social media accounts. Rosalía said she shared the video because her song was playing in the background and she had not paid attention to the accompanying text or its implications. Her apology came with an image of the Argentine flag, followed by a second post expressing affection for Argentina.
The uproar also drew attention to the song’s role in Rosalía’s live show. Europa FM later reported that she had performed 57 concerts on the LUX Tour, whose audience-participation segments included material built around the song’s “perla” theme. In October 2026, LOS40 reported that Rosalía received seven nominations at the 2026 LOS40 Music Awards Santander. They included Best Album for LUX and Best Song for “La Perla,” as well as Best Tour or Concert.
The controversy has fueled broader discussion of the World Cup final and the rivalry between Spain and Argentina. Similar tensions surfaced at public events in Spain. A World Cup screening in Bilbao, for example, was disrupted by protesters, as reported in coverage of disturbances at a PP event in Bilbao.
Rosalía’s situation highlights the sensitivity surrounding international sports rivalries and social media’s influence on public perception. Later in 2026, she also appeared at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. Latin Times reported that she received recognition as Latin Pop Artist of the Year and Top Latin Pop Album of the Year for LUX, alongside an award connected to “La Perla.” Her Buenos Aires concerts remain the immediate focus for fans weighing the apology against the dispute. The episode shows how quickly online posts can become entangled with national pride and public debate.
