Argentina risk facing sanctions from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) after players celebrated with a Falkland Islands banner following their semi-final victory over England on July 15, 2026.

The game ended in a 2-1 defeat for the Three Lions, who had taken an early lead through Anthony Gordon. However, coach Thomas Tuchel’s defensive approach eventually backfired.

Lautaro Martínez and Enzo Fernández scored two quick goals, both assisted by Lionel Messi, to send Argentina into their second consecutive World Cup final.

Messi magic fires Argentina into the World Cup final

The match turned into a feisty encounter, with referee Ismail Elfath issuing several yellow cards to control the physicality.

After Argentina’s dramatic comeback at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, midfielder Giovani Lo Celso appeared on the field with a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas,” translated as “The Malvinas are Argentine.”

“Las Malvinas” is the term used in Argentina for the Falkland Islands, a British dependency located about 300 miles (480 km) off the country’s east coast.

In 1982, Argentina’s military government invaded the territory in an attempt to seize it from the United Kingdom.

It is understood that the political nature of the message breaches FIFA’s disciplinary rules, and sanctions could be imposed to prevent future occurrences.

FIFA has yet to take official action, but reports suggest internal discussions are ongoing regarding possible punishment for the defending champions.

SB/JE

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