FIFA announced that it is investigating the incident in which Argentine soccer players, following their victory over England in the World Cup semifinal, held up a banner that read “The Falkland Islands are Argentina.”

The United Kingdom is demanding a thorough investigation, stating that this is a clear violation of FIFA regulations, which prohibit any political demonstrations inside the stadium during tournaments.

The Falkland Islands, a British archipelago located 600 km from the coast of Argentina, remain a sensitive issue in relations between London and Buenos Aires, which continue to dispute their sovereignty. In 1982, war broke out between the two countries following Argentina’s invasion of the archipelago. British forces recaptured the Falklands after 74 days of fighting, which resulted in the tragic loss of 649 Argentine and 255 British lives.

“The World Cup may not be ours, but the Falkland Islands certainly are,” said a Downing Street spokesperson. “One of the fundamental principles of the World Cup is that politics has no place in soccer. This matter is now in FIFA’s hands. I expect FIFA to conduct a thorough investigation,” British Business Secretary Peter Kyle had previously stated.

Argentine President Javier Milei initially seemed to want to downplay the situation: “Let’s not confuse the issues. The situation with the Falklands is resolved through wise diplomacy, not through cheap patriotic gestures.” On Thursday, however, he stated that he understands the national team players. “The sentiment regarding the Falklands is something shared by all Argentines, and it is entirely legitimate and valid for them to want to express it,” he told the radio station El Observador. “Indeed, the Falkland Islands are Argentine, and we will reclaim them, but we will do so diplomatically, acting with wisdom,” he added.

This is not the first time the Falklands issue has crept into a soccer match between England and Argentina. At the 1986 World Cup, four years after the war, Argentina eliminated England in the quarterfinals thanks to two historic goals by Diego Maradona (2–1), including the infamous “Hand of God” goal, “Hand of God,” which the late “Dieguito” described as “symbolic revenge against the English.”

The unofficial anthem of Argentine fans for the 2026 World Cup, “La Cuarta Estrella” (The Fourth Star), also contains a reference to the disputed archipelago: “For the Falklands, for Diego, for Leo’s (Messi) last game, Argentina, I want to see you win the World Cup twice.”

*photo source: AP