Argentina players brandish Falklands banner after 2-1 World Cup semi-final win over England

Argentina players sparked a political storm after their 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory over England at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday, celebrating on the pitch with a banner reading “The Malvinas are Argentine” — a direct reference to the disputed Falkland Islands. Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso was among those holding the sign as teammates danced around him.

The display appears to breach FIFA regulations, which explicitly ban political slogans from being shown on the pitch or on players’ equipment.

The provocation had been building in the days before kick-off. Argentina’s vice-president Victoria Villarruel publicly labelled England “invaders” and “usurping pirates” ahead of the match, writing on X: “Tomorrow we play against the usurping pirates. This isn’t just another match. I’m not going to be politically correct or cold-hearted; against the English, it’s always something more. It’s the Malvinas, it’s Diego, it’s Leo’s last one.”

Argentina’s foreign minister Pablo Quirno also waded in, describing Falklands Islanders as an “artificially implanted” population and arguing that no unilateral referendum organised by the United Kingdom could carry legal weight. Downing Street flatly rejected his claims. The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “Well, no,” before adding that “the islanders have repeatedly expressed their wish to remain a British overseas territory, and their right to self-determination is paramount.”

The Falkland Islands, an archipelago in the South Atlantic roughly 300 miles off the Argentine coast, have been a British Overseas Territory since 1833. In 1982, the then-incumbent Argentine military dictatorship invaded the islands, triggering a war in which 907 people died — 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British service members, and three Falkland Islanders.

The political undercurrent has run through Argentina’s entire tournament. After their last-16 win over Egypt, players were heard singing: “For the Malvinas, for Diego [Maradona], for Leo [Messi]’s last one.”

Tension also spilled beyond the stadium, with reports of fighting outside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium following the final whistle. Police were seen detaining at least three people in the aftermath.