World Cup: Argentina face FIFA probe after Falklands banner display

Argentina could be investigated by FIFA after some of their players displayed a banner supporting the country’s claim to the Falkland Islands following their 2-1 victory over England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final.

The defending champions staged a dramatic comeback in Atlanta on Wednesday, scoring two late goals to defeat Thomas Tuchel’s England and book a place in Sunday’s final against Spain.

After the final whistle, several Argentine players celebrated by holding up a banner that read, “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”).

The message reflects Argentina’s long-standing claim over the disputed islands and could lead to disciplinary action from FIFA, which prohibits political messages and demonstrations during its competitions.

Very Nigerian reports that the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, have long been at the centre of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina.

The disagreement led to the 1982 Falklands War, a 74-day conflict in which 655 Argentine servicemen, 255 British servicemen and three islanders were killed.

FIFA has previously sanctioned Argentina over a similar incident. In 2014, the Argentine Football Association was fined £20,000 after the national team displayed an identical banner before an international friendly against Slovenia, Very Nigerian reports.

FIFA ruled at the time that the act breached its regulations on political messages and team misconduct.

Reacting to Wednesday’s victory, Argentina’s Vice-President, Victoria Villarruel, posted on X saying, “It wasn’t just another match”, alongside a video appearing to show Argentine soldiers.

She added, “The Falklands are Argentine. They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.”

Ahead of the semi-final, Villarruel had also described the match as being “about putting the invaders in their place.”

Argentina’s players had earlier drawn attention for singing chants referencing the Falkland Islands, as well as football legends Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, after their dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt in the round of 16.

However, Argentina head coach, Lionel Scaloni, had insisted during a press conference before the England match that football should remain separate from politics.

“The reality is that this is a football match. I can’t mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago.

“It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it, that’s the reality.

“Things are happening elsewhere in the world, and we criticise the existence of war. We certainly remember those people, of course. But it is a football match – we shouldn’t confuse the two,” he said.

The semi-final, decided by late goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez after England had taken the lead, was played under heightened security because of the long-standing historical tensions between the two countries.

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