Football matches suspended in Argentina to welcome the national team after the World Cup

Argentina's football association (AFA) announced the suspension of all scheduled matches for Monday and Tuesday, July 20-21, 2026. The decision is to focus on welcoming the national team back home following their participation in the World Cup final.

The Albiceleste, led by Lionel Scaloni, will face Spain on Sunday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This marks a significant moment for the team and the nation.

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The Asociación del Fútbol Argentino informs that the matches of all categories scheduled for Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 of July are suspended.

President Javier Milei has indicated that the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace, will be made available for the team to celebrate a potential World Cup victory. He mentioned that his sister, Karina Milei, would oversee the arrangements, and security forces are preparing for various scenarios, including a potential celebration at the palace or at Ezeiza International Airport.

Security officials have already begun designing an operational plan for the team's return, drawing lessons from the massive celebrations in 2022 when an estimated 5 million people took to the streets of Buenos Aires. That celebration saw the team parade in an open-top bus, but the overwhelming crowds led to the caravan being suspended, with players eventually being airlifted by helicopter to greet fans from above.

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We are designing the security mechanisms in case (the squad) wants to go to (Ezeiza International Airport), or to Aeroparque (Buenos Aires). We have designed alternatives, so that the party is complete, without dark events to regret.