Argentina have reignited tensions with England by announcing plans to commemorate their dramatic 2026 World Cup semi-final victory with a brand-new national celebration.
The Argentine Football Association has confirmed that July 15 will now be recognised as National Football Teams Day, ensuring the country’s dramatic comeback victory over the Three Lions will be remembered annually.
The decision is unlikely to go down well with English supporters, who watched Thomas Tuchel’s side fall agonisingly short of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966.
England looked to be on course for a famous victory in Atlanta after Anthony Gordon fired them ahead in the 55th minute of a tense last-four encounter.
However, Argentina produced a devastating late turnaround.
With England sitting deep in the closing stages, the South Americans struck twice in the dying minutes, scoring in the 85th and 92nd minutes to snatch a dramatic 2-1 victory and book their place in the final.
The result shattered England’s World Cup dream and also carried added historical significance.
Argentina have reignited tensions with England by announcing plans to commemorate their dramatic 2026 World Cup semi-final victory with a brand-new national celebration
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It came exactly 40 years after Argentina’s infamous victory over England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, a match remembered for Diego Maradona’s controversial “Hand of God” goal as well as his stunning solo effort later in the game.
But the celebrations following the semi-final victory sparked controversy far beyond football.
Several Argentina players posed with a banner displaying the message “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, meaning “The Falklands are Argentine”, after the final whistle.
England were beaten 2-1 by Argentina after taking the lead in the second half through Anthony Gordon | REUTERS
The slogan refers to the long-running sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic.
The issue remains deeply sensitive in both countries following the Falklands War in 1982.
Argentina, then under the military dictatorship of General Leopoldo Galtieri, invaded the islands in April of that year, triggering a 74-day conflict with the United Kingdom.
The war claimed the lives of 655 Argentine servicemen and 255 British servicemen, while three Falkland Islanders also died before British forces regained control of the territory.
The islands’ political status has remained unchanged, with residents overwhelmingly backing continued British sovereignty.
Lautaro Martinez scored the winner for Argentina against England last month
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In a 2013 referendum, 99.8 per cent of voters chose to remain a UK Overseas Territory.
Argentina ultimately failed to lift the World Cup despite eliminating England.
They were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the final, with Barcelona’s Ferran Torres scoring the only goal of the game.
Tuchel’s side, meanwhile, recovered from their heartbreak by defeating France 6-4 in an entertaining third-place play-off.
