The “Malvinas Islands” sign ignites the atmosphere of the World Cup… and the Argentine president intervenes

Argentine players raised a banner reading “The Malvinas Islands are Argentine” on Wednesday after their victory over England 2-1 in Atlanta in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in North America, in reference to a dispute over the sovereignty of these islands that turned into an armed conflict in 1982.
A number of players carried this banner after the final whistle, before Giovanni Lo Celso placed it on the floor of Atalanta Stadium, in a move that appears to violate the regulations of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), which prohibit any political manifestations inside stadiums during the tournaments it organizes.
Later, Argentine President Javier Mele sought to calm the situation, without directly referring to the behavior of the players, stressing the need not to mix football with the political dispute over the Malouin Islands.
Milley said on Radio Miter: “We should not confuse matters. Restoring the Malouine Islands will be done through smart diplomacy, not through cheap patriotic displays.”
He added: “We are making great progress at the diplomatic level, and we were able to get the United Nations to oblige England to sit with us to negotiate, but everything should not be mixed up. It is just a football match.”
Argentina has claimed sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands, a small archipelago located in the South Atlantic Ocean, since its occupation by the British in 1833.
A two-month war broke out in the spring of 1982 after the Argentine military junta’s forces landed on the islands, resulting in the deaths of 649 Argentines and 258 Britons.
Four years later, in the 1986 World Cup, Argentina eliminated England from the quarter-finals thanks to a legendary double by Diego Maradona (2-1), including the famous goal known as the “Hand of God,” which the former Argentine star described as “symbolic revenge against the English.”
The unofficial anthem for Argentina fans at the 2026 World Cup, “La Cuarta Istria” (The Fourth Star), includes a reference to the disputed archipelago in this clip: “For Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo’s last title, Argentina, I want to see you world champion twice.”
Argentine fans chanted this anthem at the top of their voices after the 2-1 victory over the Three Lions.
The world champions will defend their title in the final match against Spain on Sunday in East Rutherford, near New York.