Rosalía debuted in Buenos Aires on Saturday with the first of four concerts at Movistar Arena, drawing thousands of fans despite controversy over her comments on Argentina's defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
Heavy security surrounded the venue, with fencing covering the stadium's front. The first fans began lining up in the afternoon ahead of the show's scheduled 9:00 p.m. local start.
Controversy and reactions
Rosalía arrived in Buenos Aires on Thursday to present her "Lux Tour" amid backlash after sharing a post that many users interpreted as referring to Argentina's national football team players as "pearls." The artist apologized, saying it had been a mistake.
Despite the uproar, most fans interviewed by EFE said they kept their tickets and remained excited to attend the first of the four shows. Ilan Chaya, who had previously attended a Rosalía concert in Buenos Aires, told EFE he had been a fan of hers for a very long time, adding that while what she did could be debated, everyone is human and can make mistakes, and that returning his ticket never crossed his mind.
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Margarita Fassi, who traveled from the province of Entre Ríos, played down the controversy, saying she came to see the artist, not her opinions on Argentina or Spain, and that she believed the post had been made without intention, as a young person. Her son, Juan Fassi, said he understood why some Argentines felt offended, though he asked for a bit more empathy.
Mood at the stadium
Not everyone was as forgiving. Cecilia Bertoldo, who arrived with friends, said someone with so many followers cannot comment so carelessly, adding that she might have returned her ticket if she could, but that everything had already been arranged months in advance.
Outside the venue, fans carried fans printed with the word "Motomami," a reference to the singer's third album, while young attendees wore glitter makeup and outfits inspired by her style. Groups of friends ran through the setlist as they waited for the doors to open.
Amid selfies, spontaneous chants and welcome signs, the controversy that dominated the days before the show appeared to fade as fans focused on the concert. Hundreds sought photos at the venue's fencing and entrance before the first of Rosalía's four nights in Buenos Aires began.
Rosalía has tried to keep a low profile during her stay in the city. She was seen dining at a restaurant in the Chacarita neighborhood, and on Saturday visited a popular Buenos Aires cafe, where she posed for photos with employees and some fans before her first of four concerts in the Argentine capital.
