[Reuters]
[Reuters]

Argentina's national soccer team players stirred controversy by displaying a politically charged banner inside the stadium after defeating England in the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America.

According to Reuters and other media, Argentina beat England 2-1 in the semifinal held Thursday in Atlanta. After the final whistle, players raised a banner reading "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas" — "The Malvinas belong to Argentina" — on the pitch.

Lisandro Martinez and Giovanni Lo Celso held up the banner and greeted fans with it. How the banner was brought into the stadium has not been confirmed.

"Malvinas" is the name Argentina uses for the Falkland Islands, which are under British administration. Argentina claims sovereignty over the islands, asserting them as Argentine territory.

Argentina launched a surprise invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982, triggering the Falklands War with Britain. The conflict ended after 74 days of fighting with Argentina's surrender. The war claimed the lives of 255 British soldiers, 649 Argentine soldiers and three island civilians.

Britain emerged victorious and continues to administer the islands today. Islanders have also backed remaining under British rule through referendums and other means. Argentina, for its part, argues that it inherited the territory upon gaining independence from Spain in 1816 and that Britain illegally occupied the islands in 1833.

The semifinal was dubbed the "Falklands derby" as it was played against the backdrop of renewed tensions between the two countries over the territorial dispute.

The incident could raise questions about whether FIFA rules were violated. FIFA's stadium code of conduct prohibits the display of banners, flags, leaflets, clothing and other materials of a political, offensive or discriminatory nature inside stadiums. FIFA has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.


min3654@heraldcorp.com