Argentina players unfurl 'Las Malvinas son argentinas' banner after World Cup semi-final win over England
Giovani Lo Celso and Lisandro Martínez held aloft a white sheet reading 'Las Malvinas son argentinas' after the 2-1 victory, inviting FIFA scrutiny.
The match and the banner
Argentina beat England 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, booking a place against Spain in the final. After the whistle, a group of players, including midfielder Giovani Lo Celso and defender Lisandro Martínez, grabbed a white banner from fans and raised it on the pitch. The banner, in black capital letters, read: "Las Malvinas son argentinas" ("The Malvinas are Argentine"). The slogan had already been visible in the stands during the match.
We were aware what this game meant for our country. We tried to represent our country and all those who lived through that sad moment of our history, so they could identify with us and we could convey a positive image.
Historical backdrop
The banner refers to the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Islas Malvinas. Argentina and the United Kingdom fought a war over the territory in 1982. The conflict lasted 74 days and killed around 1,000 soldiers, roughly two-thirds of them Argentine. The islands have been British overseas territory since 1833, a status the United Kingdom still refuses to negotiate. Diplomatic relations were only restored in 1989.
- Argentina invades British overseas territory; 74-day war kills ~1,000 soldiers.
- Villarruel tweets: 'We are playing against the usurping pirates.'
- After 2-1 win, Lo Celso and Martínez hold up banner reading 'Las Malvinas son argentinas'.
- President Milei says football must not be mixed with the Falklands conflict and emphasises diplomacy.
Polarising reactions
Even before kick-off, Argentine Vice President Victoria Villarruel had inflamed tensions, posting on X: "We are playing against the usurping pirates. This is not a game like any other." She added she would not be "politically correct" and said it was about "standing up to the invaders". After the match, President Javier Milei struck a different tone, telling Radio Mitre: "Football and the Falklands conflict must not be mixed. The islands will be won through clever diplomacy, not cheap patriotic gestures." Milei claimed the UN had been persuaded to compel Britain to talks. Coach Lionel Scaloni had also warned against linking sport and politics, saying the war was history: "What have the players got to do with it?"
Football and the Falklands conflict must not be mixed. The islands will be won through clever diplomacy, not cheap patriotic gestures.
FIFA rules and possible sanctions
FIFA prohibits players and officials from displaying political messages. The US authorities had classified the semi-final as a high-risk event, deploying over 1,600 security personnel. Argentina's team could now face disciplinary measures ranging from a fine to a match ban. The world governing body has not yet commented publicly.
What comes next
Argentina will face Spain in the final. The political gesture has already overshadowed sporting achievement, reviving a territorial wound that remains raw in Argentina. Victoria Villarruel’s father fought in the 1982 war, and her posts made clear that for many, the match carried weight beyond the pitch. Leandro Paredes said the players had tried to give a "positive image" to those affected by the conflict.
