Everyone knew that the World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina was going to be full of drama and sensitive geopolitics. In 1982, England “went to war” with Argentina over the Falkland Islands. Argentina calls the Falklands “Las Malvinas,” by the way. Once this war was over, the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges described it as “a fight between two bald men over a comb.” Still, Britain chalked up the Falklands conflict as yet another victory for their imperial might. On Wednesday, Argentina beat England in the World Cup semifinal, and after the match, Argentinian players held up a large banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” – translated as “The Malvinas are Argentine.” As you can imagine… lmao. I can’t.
The British government on Thursday urged FIFA to investigate Argentina’s team after players posed with a banner claiming sovereignty over the contested Falkland Islands.
Argentina beat England 2-1 in a World Cup semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta.
During post-match celebrations, Argentine players held a banner handed over by fans in the stands, reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Malvinas are Argentine.”
Argentina refers to the Falkland Islands as Islas Malvinas. They were invaded in 1982 under orders from Argentina’s then-military dictatorship, triggering a 10-week war won by Britain.
U.K. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the players’ behavior was “entirely inappropriate. I expect FIFA to do its investigation thoroughly.”
FIFA can prosecute Argentina’s players and soccer federation because its disciplinary code prohibits at stadiums any “message that is not appropriate for a sports event” including those of “a political, ideological, religious or offensive nature.”
The FIFA fines for political messaging are $5,000 to $20,000.
Keir Starmer’s last days as prime minister are going to be spent forming the Committee To Reinvade The Falklands, I swear to god. Anyway, isn’t this a prime example of the “banter” British people are famous for? Isn’t this all in good fun, just some post-game bragging? I expect FIFA probably will hand down a fine to Argentina, and they’ll do so as they hide their laughter. Oh, and right after the semifinal victory, Argentina also complained because Britain sent a warship to the Falklands weeks earlier??? LMAO.
Argentina lodged a complaint about a British warship near the Falkland Islands after its World Cup victory over England.
🔗: https://t.co/OrpjFsqUsX pic.twitter.com/bqxONsSapI
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 16, 2026
Argentina is at risk of being sanctioned by FIFA after its players celebrated with a Falkland Islands banner following its semi-final win over England on Wednesday.
After the team’s dramatic comeback victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, midfielder Giovani Lo Celso appeared… pic.twitter.com/dwSWFspG6e
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) July 15, 2026
🚨Argentina’s players held up a sign after full time that said:
"The Malvinas Islands (Falklands) belong to Argentina." pic.twitter.com/scUi3Eq3Ft
— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) July 15, 2026
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
-
- England Vs Argentina world cup match shown live. Sold out 1500 fans at the Outernet Live biggest screen in London. England lost 2-1.,Image: 1116771919, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no , Credit line: Aldo Ciarrocchi/Avalon
-
- Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF looks on during the Major League Soccer Match between Toronto FC and Inter Miami CF at BMO Field Stadium. on May 2, 2026 in Toronto, Canada.,Image: 1097941147, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no , Credit line: Leonardo Ramirez / Alto Press/Avalon
-
- Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF looks on during the Major League Soccer Match between Toronto FC and Inter Miami CF at BMO Field Stadium. on May 2, 2026 in Toronto, Canada.,Image: 1097941633, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no , Credit line: Leonardo Ramirez / Alto Press/Avalon
-
- Supporters of the Argentina national team during the semi-final match of the 2026 World Cup between Argentina and England, on 15 July 2026, in Madrid (Spain). The semi-final match between Argentina and England will decide which team will face Spain in the final on 19 July in New York. 15 JULY 2026 07/15/2026,Image: 1116755700, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no , Credit line: A. Pérez Meca/Europa Press/Avalon
-
- Supporters of the Argentina national team during the semi-final match of the 2026 World Cup between Argentina and England, on 15 July 2026, in Madrid (Spain). The semi-final match between Argentina and England will decide which team will face Spain in the final on 19 July in New York. 15 JULY 2026 07/15/2026,Image: 1116755730, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no , Credit line: A. Pérez Meca/Europa Press/Avalon
-
- England Vs Argentina world cup match shown live. Sold out 1500 fans at the Outernet Live biggest screen in London. England lost 2-1.,Image: 1116771889, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no , Credit line: Aldo Ciarrocchi/Avalon
i dont know anything about the Falklands, so let me preface this by saying I’m not wading into the political debate here (but I will say that according to my Threads, every single person is both a history and politics expert and a football/soccer expert LOL. Everyone knows everything with absolute certainty about these issues! It’s madness.)
Anyway I digress.
I expect there to be a fine for holding up the banner. I also think the reaction from some British quarters is a little extreme (like FIFA doesn’t need a British minister telling them to fine Argentina, you know? They’ll do it or they won’t but it wont be because this person insisted they should.) I saw one comment that every player on the Argentine team who plays in the EPL should have their work visas revoked. One said now is the time for Beckham to cut ties with Messi and drop him from Miami. Like…..I’ll take things that will never happen for 1000, Alex.
I think they held it up as a joke but it doesn’t surprise me if some Brits didn’t take it as a joke, they like taking the pi$$ at everyone but not when someone does it to them.
100% FIFA will fine them but I don’t think things will progress anywhere after that. And why should they? I think the Falklands war is one of the stupidest wars Britain got involved in, and I say this as a British person.
Just give them back to Argentine and while you’re at it Greece is still waiting for half the Parthenon frieze, by the way 😂😂😂
The Falklands were not “Argentinian”, the British didn’t get “involved” they were invaded by Argentina. Argentina is not an indigenous nation, they are European. The United Nations condemned the Argentinian invasion of the islands. The Falklands today are a multicultural archipelago that Argentina would exert their “white supremacy” on if they ever regained control.
This was not a joke. Whether you agree or disagree about who should own the islands, Argentinians feel very strongly about this.
Hear, hear! Agreed!
I think most England fans (esp under the age of 40) wouldn’t know or really care much about the Falklands issue so the banner would have gone over a lot of English fans heads. It was deliberate to rile up the politicians, get attention and poke the English team (who am sure don’t care about it either). So yeah they were being political.
It’s only banter if it starts as banter. Doesn’t seem like they were joking.
Not that I am interested. Hey the fine seems low, kinda surprised that there isn’t more political protest. Especially since it was hosted where it was..
The Falklands issue is very sensitive and thorny on both sides so this isn’t a case of post game banter but I won’t get into the politics of it. Also the Argentine team pulled a similar stunt in another game with Slovakia (I think it was) so they have previous for this kind of stunt queening.
This is typical of the kind of behaviour that certain teams have been getting away with for a long time – all it does is showcase just how corrupt FIFA has become. Look at the way Paraguay was behaving on the pitch.
I agree, this is an issue that runs deep on both sides and they knew exactly what they were doing with the banner.
I don’t know that a fine would stop them but it seems appropriate.
So I don’t really have any opinion on the Falkland stuff, but the reaction sounds more like sour grapes from fans, than any real actual concern for geopolitical conflict.
They may be fined, they may not. Probably will depend on whether unfurling banners like that is prohibited. Maybe they are only supposed to unfurl national flags or something like that. This definitely isn’t my wheelhouse.
“a fight between two bald men over a comb.”I will say, I have never heard this saying before and I love it!!
Argentina is the most racist country in Latin America just right ahead of Paraguay. I was sooo bummed when England lost. Messi and crew can all go to Haddes. Viva España!!!
I read a history book recently that said Argentina has the highest percentage European ancestry in Latin America, e.g. the least amount of historic intermarriage. So quick glance 80% of Argentina identifies as “white.” I honestly didn’t know any of this until recently, though of course I know that it was the favorite nation for Nazis escaping war crimes.
The Nazis had a massive impact on the culture and politics of Argentina which is still felt today – Juan Peron was the one who created the escape route for Nazis feeling Germany. It was also the favourite hide out for Mussolini supporting Italians who fled justice just like their Nazi friends.
@mightymolly this is offensive AF.
80% of Argentina identifies as white (with quotes), because as much as 67% of the population is of Italian descent. I love how you put white in quotes… I know that by being born south of the US, Artentinians are considered people of colour in the US.
Yes, Nazis moved there during the government of Peron. They also went to Brazil, Chile, Bolivia and Paraguay. The south of Argentina (Bariloche) looks a lot like Germany and may have appealed to them, and the goverment of the time was welcoming.
Are you making a connection? Nazis went there in the 40s = the whole country is racist in 2026?
I mean, the racist chants against French players of African descent literally just happened. All the stuff they said about IShowSpeed was abbhorent. I don’t think every Argentinian is racist by any means, but I do think it’s sad that some of the worst people in your country are being showcased during the Cup. I’m just happy that MAGA people hate football/soccer because I imagine they wouldn’t be much better.
Agreed. I hope Spain beats the breaks off of them.
This, this, this.
I’m argentinian. This person in Reddit said it a lot better than I could, so I’m pasting this here:
“The country which is by far the most welcoming country in the world by her immigration policy AND accepts everyone born on her soil as an Argentine citizen – is racist?!
European countries that don’t even have birthright citizenship… that don’t even give children born to immgirants there citizenship… and constantly scream about immigrants daring to call Argentina racist is outrageous. If there’s any country in the world that is the least racist – it’s Argentina, which is staggeringly less racist than Europe.”
I said what I said.
In March only three countries voted against the UNGA resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade and chattel slavery as the greatest crime against humanity and calling for concrete steps towards reparations: USA, Israel, and Argentina.
Needless to say, you are not in good company.
Argentina has long engaged in an explicit project of demographic and cultural whitening and has consistently pushed Indigenous and Afro-Descendant populations to the margins. To be clear, I don’t think the USA is much better but at least I’m not in denial about it.
The worst racism I ever experienced while traveling was in Spain — multiple times. For all the heat Argentina gets, let’s not let Spain off the hook here. A country with a terrible history of colonialism and still denies its own racism to this day. A former prime minister even made bigoted remarks about the racial diversity of France’s team. So nah, screw Spain too.
Maybe we need to just all agree that Eurocentric white supremacy is the scourge of the western hemisphere (and beyond. Thanks Brits!)
Argentines just generally don’t believe the Malvinas are British. It is not up for debate to them. Sure they were trolling with the sign and maybe should be fined tho.
Every bus in Buenos Aires has a huge sticker that says the same. I can’t count how many times a day I see the phrase, “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” when I’m there. It’s everywhere.
As for the war ship wtaf.
There is a large military base near the town of Stanley. 🤷🏻♀️
For GAH, from what I just read, the British warship makes sense. Falkland Islands, part of UK, was INVADED BY ARGENTINA in the 1980s. Of course the UK is going to have military defense there. It would be stupid of them if they didn’t.
The islands are believed to have been uninhabited prior to European discovery (French and British) in the 17th century so first it’s not like there were indigenous peoples there. The British have had possession and governance since the 1830s. The British descendants basically are the indigenous peoples. Which makes Argentina the colonizers?
Argentina knew what they were doing when they did that. FIFA will fine them and that will be it.
Americans should never dip into racism debates…as of now I’d be willing to say we are the most racist place on earth. Or trying to take the lead…
As an aside to Argentina’s victory/England’s loss: It was shocking to me that Kane agreed to golf with Trump and during the World Cup tourney at that (very distracting!), and he got burned by Trump’s jinx on sports teams. Messi may be World Cup GOAT at the moment but he also joyfully visited Trump’s White House. I haven’t checked whether or not Spain’s players have any contact with our lame duck President; it would seem auspicious if they haven’t!
The golfing took place about 18 months ago, which made it more WTF for me. Like he could have refused and no one would have known unless Trump went off about it on social media.
Wait, that was EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO? HAHAHAHAHAHA this makes it so much funnier! All one has to do is … refuse to golf with someone accused of rape and fomenting an insurrection and ruining literal centuries of peaceful transitions of power.
The Athletic published a story about Kane’s lack of productivity in big games and whether or not this will be his last World Cup tournament. The best comment IMO: “I feel he has at least one more Euros final loss in him.” Kane deserves all the scorn after his lackluster presence yesterday IN ADDITION TO accepting a fun day of golf with one of the most corrupt leaders of the 21st centuries.
The Spanish Govt. is currently refusing to allow the US to use its military bases in its war with Iran. So yeah, relations between the 2 countries is tense. So I doubt Spanish players will be visiting the White House. It’ll be very interesting if Spain wins the FIFA World Cup & the Felon has to give the trophy to the Spanish team!!! That is definitely worth seeing :)))
IF he hands it over instead of trying to keep it.
I’m on Team World Cup is Rigged for Argentina. Come at me LOL.
LOL I think that team bar is a very busy one, esp with the Egyptian and Cape Verde fans.
The Argentinian team feeds on this type of drama so they will pull every trick in the book against the Spanish – the Spanish team are no pushovers so its going to be a very interesting game on Sunday with LOTS of drama (on and off pitch).
So back to work after my first and probably only World Cup match. I live in the metro ATL area and traveled from work to the Mercedes-Benz (Atlanta Stadium) by MARTA train. MARTA is the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit system. The train ride was CRAZY!! It was so loud with fans chanting and getting fired up. Little did I know this was nothing compared to the crowd inside the stadium.
I have attended NFL and College football games there many times as well as concerts. I have never heard anything as loud as the crowd at this game. And believe me these diehard fans really, really did not like each other. The aggression on the field was mirrored in the stands. We had tickets in a section that was almost entirely England fans as far as I could tell.
My partner had insisted that I wear my USA jersey as it would be “SAFER”. He was not wrong. After the match it was crazy inside and out of the stadium.
Overall, it was the most energized and exciting event I have ever attended.
That sounds incredible!!!
EPL games are also an incredible atmosphere. Part of it for those games is that they don’t really serve food or drinks during the 45 minute halves, so pretty much everyone is in their seats (we had club seats for one game, and they pull the shades down so you can’t see the game from the club level, you need to go to your seat.) So it creates a different atmosphere.
Also, Tottenham has bands, lol (I’m sure others do as well but I’ve only been to Tottenham.)
Well, Kane doomed his whole team. Good. And they haven’t won a World Cup longer than the Knicks hadn’t won their championship.
Messi went with Inter Miami to meet with Trump at the White House in March. And got slammed for it.
I hated that Kane golfed with Trump — a much worse sin.
A pox on all these Trump-pandering guys.
I recognise the UK gets a whole lot of bashing on here, but realistically if any other country in any other war displayed that kind of banner I would hazard a guess that it would be considered unacceptable in a sports setting where that behaviour is banned.
Hahahahaha!! My mom and I couldn’t stop laughing when we saw the banner. The English need to get a sense of humour.
It would be the equivalent if Russia invaded Alaska or another country invaded Hawaii. Except there was NEVER an indigenous population on the Falklands. And Argentina is not an indigenous country. It’s European colonists.
I couldn’t care less about the Falklands stuff, but the racist things the Argentinian players keep singing about black players are way beyond due to be punished. I hope Spain trashes them and Yamal gets to be the one to finish them.
Really horrible things! I wouldn’t want to repeat comment here, I mean just shocking. Like old old old 300 year school racism.
Go Spain! That is all.
Go Spain!!!
I mean, English fans were all over Boston with stickers and banners saying “Make America Great Britain Again” and “MORE KINGS” so what’s good for the goose….
Sure FIFA can’t fine them because this happened outside of Boston Stadium but I personally thought it was in poor taste and it’s partially why the Scots were more widely embraced over here.
ETA: And for people outside of Boston: Bostonians do not generally find this kind of thing funny. We take our city being the birthplace of the American Revolution very seriously.
PS- Go Spain!
Kitten, wasn’t it a Celtics game when Peg and Buttons got massively booed when they were in the States a while back? But yeah sure, Boston would totally love King Chuckles and the Left Behinds to be in charge…
I was in Boston this past weekend, and thankfully didn’t see any of those stickers around – I would have been very annoyed in general and on the city’s behalf.
LOL YES. Even the most hardened Massholes get sensitive when it comes to the monarchy.
I was shocked by the number of old white English fans in Crusaders outfits? Maybe they were supposed to be knights, but it definitely looked like it was intended to be crusaders. So the old great colonizers who wrecked havoc in the Middle East and everywhere else as a symbol is definitely not great.
Arg/ Eng
2 teams with the most racist fans that excist. Sadly they came very far in the wc.
I wish the African and Caribbean countries were in the finals
Let’s not forget that the Argentinian president is a Trump supporter and a full-throated Zionist – “Argentina’s Milei says ‘proud to be the most Zionist president in the world’ at Yeshiva University” https://www.jpost.com/international/article-889514. I’m from the UK but I don’t gaf about football and wasn’t bothered about England’s progress either way, especially after learning about Harry Kane’s actions, but Argentina’s run has been greased the entire way as far as I can tell by FIFA corruption. GO SPAIN.
Considering the Haitian jersey had to be changed because FIFA considered it too political, this is a shocking overstep by the Argentinian team, and the fact that poster boy Messi was there holding it up and laughing makes it so much worse.
Is it because Trump randomly said the Falklands should be ‘given back’?
Either way this breaks the whole neutral apolitical FIFA policy in dramatic fashion and is an utter embarrassment.
Infantino must be gutted, if he doesn’t react he will be even more doomed than he already is.
I agree. I don’t think people understand that Argentina INVADED the Falklands. It’s equivalent of the United States invading Greenland.
This isn’t about the Falklands but gives people an idea of the Argentinian fans and players https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/15/world/americas/argentina-world-cup-semifinals.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1w3jlqlp27o
“Upon opening one of the boxes, we identified material intended to consolidate and propagate Adolf Hitler’s ideology in Argentina during [World War Two],” the court said about the find.
the Argentine Federal Police confiscated what was thought to be the largest cache of Nazi memorabilia outside of Europe in a raid on a local antiques store in June 2017.
“After the end of World War Two, Argentina – under the leadership of Juan Perón – became a place of refuge for a number of high-ranking Nazis, including Adolf Eichmann and Josef Mengele.”
This is not a major deal. This outrage is really funny. They’ll be a small fine but that’s it.
It’s just England being small and petty as always.
They just starved the English and made them pay for their defensive display.
I am going to be glued to my tv for the final.
Argentina v Spain is a dream final ticket.
So many people I know supported France but not me. I knew the French wouldn’t get past the Spanish, who are flying well under the radar. The French haven’t been able to best Spain for years now.
South American champions v European champions. FIFA must be ecstatic!
Racism can never win. Keep it up. Maybe not in my lifetime. But won’t.
So necessary. Ugh.
Celebitchy is a smart community but I am surprised about the lack of knowledge about the Dirty War.
Argentina’s “Dirty War” was a brutal, state-sponsored campaign of terror waged by a civic-military dictatorship against political dissidents from 1976 to 1983. An estimated 10,000 to 30,000 left-wing activists, students, and innocent civilians were “disappeared, systematically tortured, and killed.The dictatorship ultimately collapsed in 1983 following the devastating loss in the Falklands War.
And now trying to rewrite history
“Fifty years after the military dictatorship, Argentina’s government is defunding human rights groups and promoting a revisionist account of the junta’s crimes.“
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/world/americas/government-cuts-argentina-dirty-war.html
https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB73/index.htm
What the hell is happening. The current INSANE leader of Argentina is Javier Milei, the right-wing Trumper President. The Argentina fans attending the world cup are the rich a-holes of that country: vile, racist, pieces of shxt. That banner was an ode to the military junta that took over Argentina in 1976. They soon looked for a war to start, they considered several other places, to deflect from their own Dirty Way which saw over 30,000 Argentines killed who were left-wing and opposed to the military dictatorship.
The right-wing military coup was supported by Henry Kissinger and friends. That banner at the world cup is about honouring a time when a fascist military murdered whoever they wanted with impunity.
F the rich, right-wing Argentina fans at the World Cup – do not fall for their lies.
Viva Spain!