'Israeli' soldier’s viral World Cup bet backfires online after Argentina loss

An 'Israeli' soldier’s social media post pledging a contentious celebration had Argentina won the World Cup sparked swift backlash online following the match’s outcome.

In a post that gained thousands of likes, user @uricohn, pictured in military gear holding an Argentine flag, vowed:

"If Argentina wins the World Cup tonight, I’ll run with the Argentine flag through an Arab village in the West Bank, shouting, Vamos Argentina Am Yisrael Chai."

The post quickly drew attention across social media platforms, sparking outrage over the soldier's threat of provocative behavior toward local Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank.

Following the match, social media users flooded the post to mock the vow after Argentina failed to secure victory. Commenters highlighted the relief brought by the result, with one user writing:

"Spain didn’t just save the world from VARgentina, they saved a small arab village from having a harasser in the night! Vamos España"

The incident highlights the growing scrutiny on social media posts made by 'Israeli' military personnel, as online users increasingly call out instances of proposed intimidation and harassment.