Argentina has established an official holiday to celebrate its World Cup victory over England
The Argentine Football Association has declared July 15 National Soccer Teams Day. The date was chosen to commemorate Argentina’s dramatic 2–1 victory over England in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. For Argentines, this match proved to be so emotional and symbolic that they decided to celebrate it separately every year.
Argentina now has a new soccer holiday. The Argentine Football Association has decided to celebrate July 15 each year as National Soccer Teams Day. The reason is the victory over England in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup.
The match took place on July 15 in Atlanta. Argentina conceded the first goal but turned the game around in the closing minutes and won 2–1. Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martínez scored the winning goal in stoppage time. The Argentine team advanced to the final, where they eventually lost to Spain. However, for many fans, it was the victory over England that remained the highlight of the tournament.
Why the victory over England?
Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, explained that the new holiday is meant to honor all generations of soccer players who have represented the country. At the same time, he acknowledged that the victory over England gave this date special significance. “For Argentines, we won the World Cup the moment we beat England, because that was what everyone wanted most,” Tapia said.
The rivalry between Argentina and England has a long history. The soccer rivalry has also been influenced by the conflict between the two countries over the Falkland Islands, which Argentina refers to as the Malvinas. Therefore, after their victory in the semifinals, the Argentine national team players staged another protest.
The players paid tribute to the Malvinas Islands
After the final whistle, the Argentine players unfurled a banner on the field reading: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Malvinas are Argentine.” This message once again drew attention to the territorial dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, or the Malvinas.
The gesture sparked a strong reaction in the United Kingdom. Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the soccer trophy might go to another team, but London’s position on the islands remains unchanged. “The World Cup may not be ours, but the Falkland Islands are definitely ours,” Starmer said.
He also emphasized the right of the archipelago’s residents to self-determination. Argentine President Javier Milei, on the other hand, supported the players. He called their gesture “entirely justified” and said it reflects the views of a significant portion of Argentine society. At the same time, Milei acknowledged that FIFA could have sanctioned the Argentine Football Association due to the political nature of the banner. Ultimately, no sanctions were imposed specifically for this incident.
FIFA did, however, open other cases
The banner was not the only incident involving the Argentine national team that caught the attention of FIFA’s disciplinary committee. After the World Cup concluded, the organization also opened proceedings regarding the conduct of Argentine officials during the final against Spain. Specifically, charges of physical violence were brought against Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, and assistant head coach Roberto Ayala.
In addition, Paredes, Molina, Ayala, Thiago Almadi, and Spanish soccer player Gavi are accused of unsportsmanlike conduct due to the scuffles that occurred after the final whistle. Despite these controversial incidents, the Argentine Football Association has decided to designate July 15 as a special day for the national teams.
Now this day is meant to commemorate more than just a single victory. According to the association’s plan, it is also intended to honor players from different generations who have represented Argentina on the international stage. But the symbol of this new soccer day remains that same match—the dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. ESPN reports this.
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