Argentina reached the World Cup final for the second consecutive time after defeating England 2–1 in the semifinal held in Atlanta. However, the victory was overshadowed by controversy when Argentine players displayed a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas,” meaning “The Falklands are Argentine,” during their post-match celebrations. The act may lead to disciplinary action from FIFA for violating its rules against political messages.

The Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic, have long been disputed between the United Kingdom and Argentina, leading to a 74-day war in 1982. FIFA previously fined the Argentine Football Association £20,000 in 2014 for a similar incident before a friendly against Slovenia, calling such actions political and against team conduct regulations.

Argentina’s Vice President Victoria Villarruel posted on social media that the match symbolized more than football, reaffirming the Falklands’ Argentine identity. Coach Lionel Scaloni, however, had earlier stated he did not wish to mix football with politics. FIFA is now expected to review the incident and determine possible disciplinary measures.