Argentina could face disciplinary action from FIFA after players displayed a political banner following their World Cup semi-final victory over England.
The reigning champions came from behind to secure a 2–1 win in Atlanta, scoring twice late to book a place in Sunday’s final against Spain.
After the match, several players held up a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”), a message linked to the long-standing sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom.
FIFA prohibits political statements during matches, and the incident could breach its regulations on team conduct. The governing body previously fined Argentina £20,000 in 2014 for displaying a similar banner before a friendly against Slovenia.
The Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, have been disputed for decades. The conflict escalated into the 1982 Falklands War, which lasted 74 days and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Argentine and British servicemen.
Argentina’s Vice-President, Victoria Villarruel, reacted to the win on social media, saying the match was “not just another game” and reaffirming the country’s claim to the islands.
Despite the political undertones, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni had earlier stressed that football should remain separate from politics, describing the war as “a very sad period” and urging focus on the game.
The semi-final, decided by late goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez, was played under heightened security due to the historical tensions between both nations.
