Argentina's 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup semi-final became a diplomatic flashpoint. After the match at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, players Giovani Lo Celso and Lisandro Martínez held up a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," asserting sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
The UK government called the display "entirely inappropriate" and urged FIFA to investigate. FIFA's Stadium Code of Conduct explicitly prohibits political banners at its events.
FIFA has precedent for penalizing such displays. Previous incidents involving political banners have resulted in fines. The organization has a history of trying to keep politics off the pitch, including banning "One Love" armbands at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Argentina will now face Spain in the World Cup final. The investigation could unfold while the team remains in competition.