Argentina face potential FIFA action after Falkland Islands banner displayed during England win celebrations

By Karan Malhotra — 16 July 2026 — 3 min read

Post-match celebrations and political messaging

Argentina could face disciplinary action from FIFA after players displayed a banner supporting the country’s claim over the Falkland Islands during celebrations following their FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final victory against England. The defending champions secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Thomas Tuchel‘s England side in Atlanta, scoring two late goals to book their place in Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain.

Following the final whistle, Argentina‘s players celebrated on the pitch while holding a banner that read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," which translates to "The Falklands are Argentine." This act has brought the team under scrutiny from world football’s governing body.

This incident is not the first time Argentina has faced repercussions for similar actions. In 2014, FIFA fined the Argentine Football Association £20,000 after players displayed a banner with the same message before a friendly match against Slovenia. At that time, FIFA ruled that such an act breached its regulations concerning political action and team misconduct.

Historical context and official reactions

The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean, but Argentina has consistently asserted its sovereignty over the islands. The dispute led to a 74-day war between the two nations, which took place from April to June 1982. This conflict resulted in the deaths of 655 Argentine servicemen, 255 British servicemen, and three islanders.

The political undertones surrounding the match were also evident in comments made by Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel. After Argentina‘s victory, Villarruel celebrated the result on social media, stating, "it wasn’t just another match." She accompanied her post with a video that appeared to show Argentine soldiers. She further added, "The Falklands are Argentine. They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts."

Prior to the semi-final, Villarruel had also described the match as being "about putting the invaders in their place." This sentiment highlights the deep-seated historical tensions that continue to influence the discourse between the two nations, even in the context of a sporting event.

The semi-final match itself, which saw England lose to late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, was held under increased security measures. These measures were implemented due to the historical tensions between Argentina and England, underscoring the sensitive nature of any encounter between the two countries.

Manager’s stance and previous incidents

Despite the political expressions from some players and officials, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni had previously stated his desire to keep football separate from politics. Before the semi-final, Scaloni remarked that he was "not going to mix" football and politics. He emphasised that "the reality is that this is a football match. I can’t mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago."

Scaloni further elaborated on the historical context, describing the 1982 conflict as "a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it, that’s the reality." He acknowledged the memory of those who died, stating, "We certainly remember those people, of course. But it is a football match – we shouldn’t confuse the two." This perspective from the manager contrasts with the actions and statements made by others associated with the team.

This is not the first instance where Argentina players have referenced the Falklands during the current World Cup campaign. Following their dramatic 3-2 last-16 victory over Egypt, Argentina players sang chants that referenced the Falklands, alongside football legends Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. These repeated references indicate a persistent connection between the team’s identity and the sovereignty dispute.

Argentina is now set to face Spain in the final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. The team will be aiming to become only the third nation in history to win back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles, a significant achievement that would further solidify their place in football history.

The potential disciplinary action from FIFA will be a point of concern for the Argentine Football Association as they prepare for the final match.