The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has declared July 15 as 'National Football Teams Day' to commemorate the national team's World Cup semi-final victory over England. This designation, announced by the AFA, marks a significant moment for the country, intertwining sporting achievement with a long-standing political claim to the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas.
The semi-final match saw Argentina come from behind to defeat England 2-1 in Atlanta, with goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez in the final minutes, securing their place in the World Cup final. Following the victory, players displayed a banner reading 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas,' which translates to 'The Falkland Islands are Argentinian.'
The AFA stated that the chosen date commemorates Argentina's "historic victory over England in the World Cup semi-final," highlighting the team's comeback and the subsequent national celebration. The recognition extends beyond the senior team to all national squads, including youth, men's, women's, futsal, beach soccer, and field football teams.
The display of the banner prompted a strong reaction in the United Kingdom. Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer asserted the UK's commitment to the Falkland Islands, emphasizing the principle of self-determination for the islanders. He also called for an investigation into the use of political messaging, which is prohibited by FIFA rules. FIFA confirmed it had opened an investigation into the matter.
Argentine President Javier Milei deemed the players' celebration with the banner "perfectly valid," stating it reflects a sentiment shared by all Argentines, though he anticipated FIFA might impose a fine. AFA president Claudio Tapia remarked that for Argentinians, winning the World Cup felt like beating England, a victory that generated a sense of "epic invincibility."
In separate disciplinary actions, FIFA has initiated proceedings against two Argentine players, Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina, and coach Roberto Ayala, for alleged assaults during post-match altercations following the World Cup final against Spain. Argentina lost that match 1-0 after extra time, and the scenes that followed involved physical clashes between players and staff from both teams. FIFA's investigation also covers potential breaches related to discriminatory chants, gestures, and other unsporting conduct during several matches at the World Cup.