Video shows Argentine flag with Malvinas message reaching players after World Cup semifinal

An unreleased video has surfaced, revealing the exact moment an Argentine flag bearing the message "The Malvinas are Argentine" was passed to players on the field following Argentina's 2-1 victory against England in the 2026 World Cup semifinals. The footage, shared by an Argentine fan who reportedly found it while reviewing tournament recordings, captures the flag landing on the pitch during post-match celebrations on July 15.

In the video, midfielder Giovani Lo Celso is seen retrieving the flag. After reading its message, he proudly displays it to the stands alongside defenders Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero before unfurling it on the field. This sequence provides crucial context to the flag's origin, which had previously fueled speculation and widespread sharing of images on social media.

The episode has also triggered political and sporting reactions. Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno commented this week that the flag displayed by the footballers "tells a truth" regarding Argentina's sovereignty claim over the Malvinas Islands. "We have nothing to apologize for. The flag tells a truth. There is no diplomatic crisis with the United Kingdom. We have a fundamental difference regarding the sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands," Quirno stated. He also emphasized that the players' action was "completely spontaneous" as the flag was thrown from the stands and subsequently displayed by the players.

The foreign minister's remarks followed the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's announcement of proceedings against the Argentine Football Association (AFA). The proceedings cite, among other reasons, potential violations of rules prohibiting the use of sporting events for non-sporting demonstrations.