16.07.2026 08:10
Argentina, who advanced to the final by defeating England in the last minutes of the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final, will face disciplinary action for displaying a banner reading 'The Falkland Islands are Argentine' on the pitch after the historic victory. Political tensions rose following the epic match overshadowed by the 1982 war.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final made headlines not only for the on-field comeback but also for the political crisis that erupted after the match. In yesterday's thrilling encounter, defending champion Argentina, who defeated England 2-1 with goals scored after the 85th minute, secured their place in the final. However, a banner unfurled by players on the pitch after the final whistle cast a shadow over the victory celebration.
DRAMATIC COMEBACK ON THE PITCH, BANNER CRISIS OFF THE PITCH
In a match played under tight security, Argentina, trailing against England, staged a miraculous comeback with goals from Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martinez in the 90+2nd minute.
However, during the celebrations, a banner carried by Argentine players reading in Spanish "The Falkland Islands are Argentine" reopened a 44-year-old historical wound between the two nations. The islands, located in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean and considered a British Overseas Territory, led the two countries into a bloody 74-day war in 1982.
FIFA EXPECTED TO ISSUE HEAVY PENALTY
World football's governing body, FIFA, is expected to sanction the Argentine Football Federation for violating rules on "political action" and "team discipline."
This is not the first time Argentina has engaged in such behavior. The tango dancers displayed a similar banner during a friendly match against Slovenia in 2014 and were fined £20,000 by FIFA. It was also reported that Argentine players made chants emphasizing the Falkland Islands, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi in the locker room after their round of 16 victory over Egypt.
ARGENTINE VICE PRESIDENT ALSO SHARES POSTS
Tensions also escalated on the political front. Argentine Vice President Victoria Villarruel fueled the controversy with posts on her social media account after the match. Before the game, Villarruel said, "This match is about putting the occupiers in their place," and after the victory, she shared a photo of the players with the banner, using the following words:
"They banned bringing them into the stadium, but they forgot that we carry them in our blood and hearts. This was not an ordinary match."
SCALONI CALLS FOR COMMON SENSE: THIS IS JUST A FOOTBALL MATCH
In contrast to politicians and players, Argentina's head coach Lionel Scaloni, in his statements before and after the match, emphasized that sports and politics should be kept separate and called for common sense.
The successful coach spoke about the ongoing controversy as follows:
"The truth is, this is a football match. Out of respect for what happened years ago, especially, I cannot mix the two. This was one of the saddest periods in our history... Of course, we remember those people. But this is a football match; we must not mix the two."
Having eliminated England to book their place in the final, Argentina will face Spain in the grand World Cup final on Sunday to fight for the championship.