A shocking racist gesture targeting Asians at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup has sparked outrage. The controversy erupted after a Brazilian influencer mocked Asians with a "slant-eye" gesture following Brazil's match against Japan.
Right after Brazil defeated Japan in the Round of 32, the Brazilian influencer posted a video to their Instagram Stories showing themselves pulling their eyes back with their fingers. The act drew major backlash from football fans worldwide.
Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University said on the 6th, "The act of pulling one's eyes back with fingers is a representative racist gesture used in the West to demean Asians," adding, "I received many tips from netizens, and upon checking, it was also covered by Chinese outlet 'Hupu.com'."
As the controversy grew, the influencer reportedly changed their account name and switched it to private instead of issuing an apology.
Professor Seo emphasized, "This Brazilian influencer should not try to hide but must issue a public apology," urging football fans around the world to remain vigilant against such behavior.