Argentina face FIFA action over Falklands banner
Argentina’s players unfurled a banner reading ‘The Falklands are Argentine’ after beating England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta on 15 July 2026. The display breaks FIFA rules banning political slogans, and the governing body is expected to open disciplinary proceedings.
Tottenham captain Cristian Romero, former Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, and Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez were among those holding the flag. Asked about it afterwards, midfielder Leandro Paredes said: ‘The Falklands will always be Argentinian.’
FIFA prohibits political, religious, or personal slogans on the pitch and on players’ equipment, BBC Sport reported. There is a direct precedent. In 2014, FIFA fined the Argentine Football Association £20,000 after its players displayed the same banner before a friendly against Slovenia in La Plata. As of 16 July, FIFA had not announced a decision.
England had led through an Anthony Gordon goal. Enzo Fernández equalised in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez scored the winner in stoppage time, according to the official FIFA match record. Argentina will now face Spain in the final.
Before kick-off, Argentina fans whistled and chanted through God Save the King, leaving the anthem barely audible inside the stadium. There were heated exchanges between players after the final whistle.
UK politicians have called for a FIFA inquiry. Business Secretary Peter Kyle told Times Radio: ‘The way the England team acted is the perfect contrast, and really shows them for their own behaviour by contrast. FIFA needs to take the action that needs to happen.’
If FIFA has a scintilla of integrity those players would be banned and fined
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, said the display was ‘verging on a declaration of war’. He added: ‘They were laying claim to a territory. It’s all a part of winding up their people and that is dangerous.’ Reform UK economic spokesman Robert Jenrick said: ‘If FIFA has a scintilla of integrity those players would be banned and fined, but I won’t hold my breath.’ Shadow sports minister Louie French called the display a ‘pathetic stunt’ and said FIFA ‘must now throw the book at them’.
The banner followed days of political heat. Before the match, Argentina’s Vice-President Victoria Villarruel called England ‘usurping pirates’ and wrote: ‘Against the English, it’s always something more.’
It was not a one-off from the players either. After Argentina’s 3-2 last-16 comeback against Egypt, the squad was filmed singing ‘La Cuarta Estrella’, the fans’ unofficial tournament anthem, which includes a line claiming the Malvinas. The Argentine FA posted the dressing-room footage on its own social media accounts.
In Buenos Aires, hundreds of thousands gathered in the city centre after the semi-final, singing the anthem. A motorcyclist rode past the crowds with a flag reading ‘Malvinas libres’.
Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory, in 1982. Britain retook the islands after a 10-week war in which 649 Argentine troops died. The islanders have repeatedly voted to remain British.
Early British reporting on the incident did not mention that, according to some accounts, the banner was handed to the players by fans in the stands rather than prepared by the team.
FIFA’s disciplinary process is expected to begin before the final, though no timetable has been confirmed.
