{"success":true,"data":{"id":"f881ac7e-a1dd-4b7d-8c01-75791517ff6e","title":"Niall Horan responds after being accused of ‘hating’ Argentina in social media controversy","summary":"US Edition Change Support Now × \"Clear search box\") Custom Search Sort by Relevance Date NewsNews World CupWorld Cup SportsSports CultureCulture LifestyleLifestyle MoneyMoney TravelTravel PremiumPremium More More Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the si...","content":"US Edition Change\n\nSupport Now\n\n[×](javascript:void(0) \"Clear search box\")\n\nCustom Search\n\nSort by\n\nRelevance\n\nDate\n\n*   News[News](https://www.independent.co.uk/us)\n\n*   World Cup[World Cup](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup)\n\n*   Sports[Sports](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport)\n\n*   Culture[Culture](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment)\n\n*   Lifestyle[Lifestyle](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style)\n\n*   Money[Money](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money)\n\n*   Travel[Travel](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/travel)\n\n*   Premium[Premium](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium)\n\nMore\n\nMore\n\n### Thank you for registering\n\nPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in\n\n# Niall Horan responds after being accused of ‘hating’ Argentina in social media controversy\n\n## Former One Direction singer called it ‘honest mistake’\n\n[Jacob Stolworthy](https://www.independent.co.uk/author/jacob-stolworthy-0)Wednesday 22 July 2026 09:39 EDT\n\n*   Copy link  \n*   Bookmark  \n*   [Comments](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/niall-horan-argentina-world-cup-instagram-b3019538.html#comments-area)Go to comments  \n\n## Bookmark popover\n\nRemoved from bookmarks\n\nClose popover\n\nClose\n\nPowered By\n\n10 Sec\n\n21.7K\n\n00\n\nNiall Horan fears he may need hip surgery soon as he opens up on health worries\n\nNext video in\n\nNext\n\nKEEP WATCHING\n\n### Your support helps us to tell the story\n\nFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.\n\nAt such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.\n\nThe Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.\n\n**Your support makes all the difference.**\n\n[Niall Horan](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/niall-horan) has said he has “nothing but love” for [Argentina](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/argentina) after being accused of mocking the country after their World Cup defeat.\n\n[Spain beat Argentina in a heated World Cup final](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-final-spain-argentina-result-ferran-torres-lionel-messi-b3017834.html) on Sunday (18 July), a game that resulted in chaos when Argentina players Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina tried to s[tart brawls with Spanish players](https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/copa-independent/spain-world-cup-argentina-final-analysis-b3018274.html) after the final whistle.\n\nAfter the match, former One Direction singer Horan liked a post titled: “8 times Argentina were really nice guys during the World Cup final,” a carousel of photos that poked fun at an earlier controversy involving the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.\n\nopen image in gallery\n\nNiall Horan described liking post as ‘honest mistake’(PA)\n\nAn international row was sparked when Argentine [players held up a banner that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”,](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/argentina-england-falklands-banner-punishment-fifa-b3015917.html)which translates to “The Falkland Islands are Argentinian”, in the wake of their 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup semi-final.\n\nPolitical tensions linger between Argentina and the UK over the Falkland Islands, which escalated into armed conflict in 1982 after Argentina invaded the islands. Buenos Aires claims sovereignty over the Falklands, which are about 8,000 miles from Britain and 300 miles from Argentina.\n\nUndo","source_name":"The Independent","source_url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/niall-horan-argentina-world-cup-instagram-b3019538.html","url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/niall-horan-argentina-world-cup-instagram-b3019538.html","author":"Jacob Stolworthy","author_name":"Jacob Stolworthy","published_at":"2026-07-22T13:39:03.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-22T13:39:03.000Z","image_url":"https://static.the-independent.com/2026/07/22/14/01KTET2A24FVMWDJ8J6WVX5C6W.jpg","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":3,"word_count":497,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot","language":null}}