The Argentine Football Association has announced that July 15 will be celebrated as ‘National Football Teams Day’ to commemorate Argentina’s semi-final victory over England in the 2026 World Cup.

Bidding for their first World Cup final since 1966, England took an early lead during the match held in Atlanta with a goal from Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute.

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However, Argentina managed to respond dramatically, scoring twice in the closing minutes of the game—in the 85th and 92nd minutes—to clinch a 2-1 victory.

This win marked 40 years since Argentina’s previous significant World Cup victory against England, which was during the controversial quarter-finals in the 1986 tournament.

Following their latest triumph, political tensions resurfaced as some Argentinian players celebrated by holding a banner that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates to “The Falklands are Argentine.”

The Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory located in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, continue to be a point of contention between the UK and Argentina.

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In 1982, Argentina, led by a military junta under General Leopoldo Galtieri, invaded the islands, which lie approximately 300 miles off Argentina’s eastern coast.

The conflict lasted 74 days, resulting in the deaths of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen, along with three civilian casualties from the islands.

In a referendum held in 2013, 99.8% of Falkland Islanders voted to remain a UK territory.

Argentina went on to lose 1-0 to Spain in the final, while England beat France 6-4 to secure third place.