According to a report by Metro on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Argentina could face FIFA punishment after their players displayed a banner referencing the Falkland Islands following their World Cup semi-final victory over England.
Argentina secured a place in Sunday’s World Cup final after defeating England 2-1 in a dramatic encounter in Atlanta. The defending champions came from behind after Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute, with Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez scoring late goals to complete the comeback.
However, celebrations after the match have attracted attention after Argentina midfielder Giovani Lo Celso held up a banner with the message “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as “The Falklands are Argentine”.
The banner refers to the long-running dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, including the 74-day war in 1982 which resulted in the deaths of 255 British servicemen and 649 Argentinian personnel.
Throughout the World Cup, Argentina players and supporters have included references to the Falkland Islands in songs. Ahead of the semi-final, Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul addressed the subject, saying the team remembered those who died but insisted the match against England was still a football contest.
Following the victory, Argentina’s players displayed the banner as they celebrated reaching the final, where they will face Spain. England, meanwhile, will play France in the third-place play-off.
FIFA regulations prohibit political statements at matches organised by the governing body. The organisation’s rules state that political or provocative messages are not permitted inside stadiums.
Argentina have previously faced punishment for displaying a similar message. In 2014, the Argentine Football Association was fined £19,540 after players held up a banner with the same wording before a friendly match against Slovenia.
At the time, FIFA confirmed that the punishment was issued after the AFA was found to have breached regulations relating to political actions and team misconduct.
The issue comes after a tense semi-final between England and Argentina, which saw emotions run high both during and after the match.
Argentina will now prepare for their World Cup final against Spain on Sunday as they aim to defend the title they won in 2022, while England will face France in the third-place play-off on Saturday.
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