Argentina's midfielder Giovani Lo Celso takes part in a training session in Kansas City, the US, on July 12, 2026, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo: VCG

The Argentina national football team has pledged to donate a batch of team merchandise, including water bottles, towels, clothing and backpacks, to help residents affected by the floods in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, saying it hopes to "give back" to the support it has received from Chinese fans during the FIFA World Cup.

In a statement posted on its official account on Sina Weibo in the early hours on Tuesday, the team said it was "deeply saddened" after hearing news of the flooding in Guangxi and wanted to do something for its supporters in China, especially those in the flood-hit region.

"We hope to donate a batch of Argentina national team supplies, including water bottles, towels, clothing and backpacks, which we believe can contribute to post-disaster recovery and reconstruction," the statement reads.

The team added that it was seeking partners to facilitate the donation and invited organizations or individuals with relevant channels to get in touch to help deliver the supplies to the affected communities.

"During the World Cup, we have felt tremendous support and encouragement from Chinese fans, which has been a great source of motivation for the Argentina national team," the statement reads. "Now we hope to give something back in return."

The donation comes as Guangxi continues recovery efforts following devastating floods triggered by Typhoon Maysak.

According to local authorities, the floods have left 39 people dead and nine missing, the Xinhua News Agency reported on July 9.

Rescue teams have been carrying out search and rescue operations, relocating affected residents, restoring public services and clearing damaged infrastructure, while relief supplies and donations have continued to arrive from across the country.

The announcement attracted a warm response from Chinese netizens on Weibo, with many expressing support and appreciation for the team's gesture.

Some netizens recalled Argentina team's previous support for China during natural disasters, sharing images of supplies donated by the Argentina national team following the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Jishishan county in Northwest China's Gansu Province in December 2023.

The pledge also comes as defending champion Argentina prepares for the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the team will face England in the semifinals on Wednesday.

The South American side has advanced to the semifinals after mounting a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt in the quarterfinals, maintaining its bid to retain the world title.

Controversy surrounding Argentina has gained ground on social media in China ahead of the World Cup semifinals, with the online "Argentina Out" campaign calling for FIFA to remove the defending champions from the tournament. 

The petition posted on the website argentinaout.com claims that FIFA and match officials have shown favoritism toward Lionel Messi and Argentina, alleging that the competition has been unfairly tilted in their favor. The website says the petition has attracted millions of signatures, although it is not affiliated with FIFA or any football governing body.

The campaign argues that Argentina's success has been aided by what it describes as biased refereeing decisions, and calls for the team to be excluded from the World Cup to "give everyone else a fair chance." The allegations have circulated widely online, but no evidence has been presented by FIFA or other official bodies supporting claims that Argentina or referees have manipulated the tournament.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni dismissed the campaign as part of the attention that comes with being one of the world's top football teams. He said the team understood that some people would not want Argentina to win, but insisted that outside criticism would not affect the squad's preparation or focus. Scaloni said Argentina's response would come on the pitch rather than through reactions to external noise.