The White House has backed Argentina's footballers after they displayed a banner asserting sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, with Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House FIFA task force, citing US free speech protections for the team's actions following their semifinal victory over England in Atlanta.
British officials demanded FIFA take action. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson said "the World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are", while Business Secretary Peter Kyle called the banner an egregious violation of rules barring political activity in football. The Falkland Islands government said it was disappointed but not surprised. FIFA confirmed its independent disciplinary committee is assessing match reports, though a ruling is unlikely before Sunday's final.
In Buenos Aires, Vice President Victoria Villarruel posted a video of Argentine soldiers calling the English team "usurping pirates," and President Javier Milei wrote that diplomacy was bringing the islands closer to Argentine recovery.