The aftermath of Argentina's World Cup final loss to Spain was marked by controversial political claims and disciplinary issues, overshadowing the team's performance on the pitch. Hours after the defeat, Barbara Paredes, sister of Argentine player Leandro Paredes, made a statement asserting Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands, which are a British Overseas Territory.
Disputes over the archipelago, referred to by Argentina as Las Malvinas, have been a recurring theme during the tournament. Argentine players reportedly sang anti-English songs and displayed a banner reiterating their claim to the islands after their semi-final victory against England. Barbara Paredes told reporters that while the team may not have secured their third or fourth World Cup star, "we’ve got the Falklands all to ourselves."
Argentina has historically asserted a claim over the islands, which have been under British control since 1833. An attempted invasion in 1982 led to a 10-week conflict. In a 2013 referendum, 99.8 percent of Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain British. Argentine officials, including Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, have questioned the legitimacy of this referendum, suggesting the population was "artificially implanted by the occupying power." This stance was rejected by Downing Street.
Argentina's foreign affairs ministry also lodged a diplomatic protest with the United Kingdom over the movement of a Royal Navy patrol ship near the South Atlantic archipelago, calling it an "unlawful" act and a "military incursion." The UK government stated that the vessel was undertaking a routine logistics visit and that the British Navy operates in full compliance with international law.
During the tournament, Argentina's head coach, Lionel Scaloni, had expressed a desire to keep the focus on football rather than the territorial dispute. However, Argentina's vice-president, Victoria Villarruel, posted a message on social media after the final, stating it was "not just another match" and shared a video appearing to show Argentine soldiers. Earlier, she had referred to England as "invaders" and "usurping pirates."
Players Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez were seen waving the Falklands banner after their semi-final win. FIFA has not yet issued sanctions for the display of political banners, although Argentine players were fined in 2014 for a similar infraction. In contrast, UEFA has issued bans for political chants.
Donald Trump's White House had previously supported Argentina's use of the banner, with a FIFA task force member citing First Amendment rights. Argentinian President Javier Milei also commented on the situation, stating his government is "getting closer every day" to recovering sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and surrounding maritime areas through diplomatic channels.
The team's loss to Spain in extra time prevented them from displaying the banner again. The match's conclusion was also marred by on-field altercations. Leandro Paredes was involved in violent conduct, including throttling Eric Garcia and wrestling Gavi to the ground. Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada were also involved in scuffles, and Nicolas Otamendi confronted Rodri. FIFA has opened a second investigation into Argentina's conduct, appointing a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to assess the incident.