A political controversy has erupted after Argentina defeated England 2-1 and reached the FIFA World Cup 2026 final in Atlanta on Thursday (July 16). And, Argentina players could face FIFA action over displaying the Falkland Islands banner.
Lionel Messi and his teammates celebrated their semifinal win over England by holding a banner that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as “The Falklands are Argentine”.
War over Falklands
The same banner was held by Argentine fans in the stands at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Argentines call the Falkland Islands as “Las Malvinas”.
Also read: How Scalonismo turned Argentina into the masters of comebacks
Argentina and Britain have engaged in war in 1982 over the centuries-old dispute over Falkland Islands, off the southern Argentina coast. In the 74-day war, 649 Argentines, 255 British soldiers, and three persons from the islands, lost their lives.
In a referendum held in 2013, the islanders voted in large numbers to remain a UK overseas territory. The British overseas territory remains a subject of a sovereignty dispute between London and Buenos Aires.
Argentine V-P’s X posts
Before the match, Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni did not want to connect politics with sport, and declared: “It’s a football match; I can’t mix things up, out of respect for what happened so many years ago.”
Also read: Argentina V-P brands England ‘invaders’ as World Cup SF mood revives Falklands
But Argentina’s Vice-President Victoria Villarruel, who had raised the Falkland Islands issue before the semifinal, wrote on X (Formerly Twitter) with the photo of Argentine players celebrating with the islands’ banner, “The Falklands are Argentine! They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.”
Before the match, she had called England “invaders”. Her post on X read, “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, and it’s putting the brakes on the invaders. Go Argentina! Because until our last breath, we’re going to claim what’s ours!”
On her X account, she has “Daughter of a Falklands War Veteran” mentioned as part of her biography.
What FIFA rules say
Argentina could be fined by the sport’s world governing body. Previously, FIFA had imposed 30,000 Swiss francs (About USD 36,000) fine on Argentina Football Association (AFA) in 2014, when players held up a similar banner ahead of their friendly against Slovenia.
As per the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and FIFA rules, players and teams are prohibited from displaying political messaging during games.
According to FIFA’s stadium Code of Conduct, “Any materials, including but not limited to banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature, containing wording, symbols or any other attributes aimed at discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group on account of race, skin colour, ethnicity, national or social origin, gender identity and expression, disability, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, birth, wealth or any other status, sexual orientation or on any other grounds.”
“Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images. Players must not reveal undergarments that show political, religious, personal slogans, statements or images, or advertising other than the manufacturer’s logo. For any offence the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by FIFA,” states IFAB rulebook.
On Sunday (July 19), Argentina face Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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