Argentina have approved 15 July as a national football day to commemorate their dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup, a decision likely to intensify tensions between the two countries.
The Argentine Football Association approved the measure unanimously on Thursday, according to ESPN, in a move that has already provoked anger in England because of the political message linked to the match.
An official statement from the association said: “This date was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of Argentina’s historic and great victory over England in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup.”
Argentina had been trailing 1-0 until the 85th minute before scoring twice to complete a remarkable comeback. The result sent them through to the World Cup final for the second consecutive tournament.
Immediately after the final whistle, Argentina’s players held up a banner on the pitch bearing the words: “The Malvinas Islands are Argentine.” Argentina uses the name Malvinas Islands for the territory known in the United Kingdom as the Falkland Islands.
The gesture triggered widespread anger in England, leading the UK government to call on FIFA to investigate the incident. The decision to create a national day around the victory is expected to heighten the controversy in the coming hours.
The match result also revived Argentina’s long-standing claim to the Falkland Islands, which are about 8,000 miles from Great Britain and 300 miles from Argentina’s mainland.
Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, described the players’ decision to display the banner as “completely right”. He said the message “reflects a feeling shared by all Argentines”, although he also predicted that FIFA would fine the team.
The political dispute over the islands has remained a sensitive issue between Argentina and the United Kingdom for decades. The renewed focus follows an extraordinary semi-final in which England appeared to be heading for victory before Argentina’s late turnaround.
The 2-1 win was therefore significant both on the pitch and beyond it. Argentina not only secured a place in the World Cup final, but also used the occasion to restate its position on the Falkland Islands in front of a global audience.
The Argentine Football Association’s decision means the match will now receive an official annual commemoration in the country’s football calendar. It comes after players’ celebrations had already drawn international scrutiny and prompted calls for FIFA to examine whether the banner breached its regulations.
The final decision on any possible punishment remains with FIFA.
