Argentina declares July 15 National Football Teams Day after World Cup win over England
Buenos Aires: The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has officially declared July 15 as 'National Football Teams Day,' commemorating the national team's dramatic victory over England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final. The designation, approved unanimously during a recent AFA Executive Committee meeting, extends the tribute to all national squads representing the country, including youth, women's, futsal, and beach soccer teams.
Commemorating a Dramatic Comeback
The date was chosen to immortalise Argentina's stunning 2-1 semi-final win in Atlanta. During the match, England appeared set to secure a place in the final after Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 55th minute. However, Argentina mounted a late comeback with goals from Enzo Fernández in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez in stoppage time, securing their spot in a second consecutive World Cup final.
According to an official AFA statement, as cited by ESPN:
"The team, led by Lionel Scaloni, were trailing the English side by a single goal but, thanks to goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, managed to turn the result around and send the whole country into a frenzy, with people flooding the streets in celebration."
ALSO READ: Argentina stages stunning late comeback to beat England 2-1
Controversy Over Post-Match Celebrations
The victory, while celebrated across Argentina, sparked international controversy due to post-match demonstrations by the players. Following the final whistle, members of the Argentine squad celebrated on the pitch, displaying a banner that read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" (The Malvinas are Argentinian).
The display referenced the long-running sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands. The incident prompted a strong reaction in the UK, leading the British government to call on FIFA to investigate the celebrations.
ALSO READ: Why did Argentine players hold Falklands banner after triumph over England
Despite the controversy, Argentine President Javier Milei publicly defended the players, describing the celebration as "perfectly valid" and reflective of national sentiment, though he acknowledged that FIFA could impose financial penalties over the incident.