US backs Argentina's Falklands banner at World Cup, UK row

The United States has defended the right of Argentina's footballers to display a banner claiming the Falkland Islands during the World Cup, sparking a diplomatic row with the United Kingdom. The banner was unfurled by Argentina's squad after their 2-1 semi-final victory over England, and the White House said the players had the freedom to make such statements. The UK government reacted angrily, with politicians and commentators pointing out that Britain won the 1982 war over the islands and that the dispute is over. Argentina's president, Javier Milei, mocked the British reaction, accusing London of throwing tantrums and insisting that diplomatic efforts to recover the Malvinas (as Argentina calls the islands) were making progress.

FIFA, football's world governing body, said it would investigate the incident as a potential breach of its rules prohibiting political messages. The rules state that displaying political, religious or personal messages is strictly prohibited before, during or after matches, but the punishment is not fixed and depends on the circumstances. Critics accused FIFA of arbitrary enforcement, noting that in 2014 Argentina was fined for a similar display during a friendly match against Slovenia. The row was further inflamed when former England player and BBC presenter Gary Lineker referred to the Falklands as the Malvinas during a broadcast, prompting criticism from some quarters.

The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of the World Cup final, in which Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the trophy for the second time. The match, played in New Jersey, was a tense affair with few clear chances. Argentina had a man sent off in the second half for a second yellow card. After the final whistle, ugly scenes broke out as some Argentine players and backroom staff were involved in altercations with the Spanish squad. FIFA launched a separate investigation into that violence. Spain's victory sparked huge celebrations in Madrid, with an estimated one million people lining the streets for a victory parade. The Spanish team were received by King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

The tournament as a whole was marked by several controversies. The use of hydration breaks, which effectively split each half into quarters, dismayed traditionalists and was seen as a concession to American television advertising. The lengthy halftime show, featuring Madonna and other stars, also drew criticism. The US president, Donald Trump, attended the final and was booed by the crowd when he appeared on the pitch for the medal ceremony. Trump had earlier lobbied FIFA to overturn a suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun, which FIFA did, raising questions about the independence of its disciplinary committee. Ticket prices were also criticised for being out of reach of ordinary fans. Despite these issues, FIFA reported record revenues of $15 billion and said the tournament was a success, with record attendances of almost seven million spectators across the three host nations.