“The Malvinas Islands are Argentine.”

The message, hastily painted on a piece of cloth from a hotel sheet, was secretly brought into the stadium where Argentina was facing England for the semifinals of the men’s football World Cup on July 15 by an Argentine fan and dropped onto the field for the national team’s players to pick up and celebrate with after their win. 

It revived a centuries-old debate.

Who do the Malvinas — or Falklands, as the United Kingdom refers to them — belong to?

🗣️ "FUE UN MOMENTO ÚNICO. ES PARTE DE NUESTRA HISTORIA"🇦🇷 Lisandro Martínez se refirió a la bandera con la leyenda “Las Malvinas son argentinas” que desplegó la Selección Argentina tras vencer a Inglaterra en la Copa del Mundo 2026:"Fue un momento único. La verdad que bueno,… pic.twitter.com/GSbvTHFOjk— dataref (@dataref_ar) July 26, 2026

🗣️ "FUE UN MOMENTO ÚNICO. ES PARTE DE NUESTRA HISTORIA"🇦🇷 Lisandro Martínez se refirió a la bandera con la leyenda “Las Malvinas son argentinas” que desplegó la Selección Argentina tras vencer a Inglaterra en la Copa del Mundo 2026:"Fue un momento único. La verdad que bueno,… pic.twitter.com/GSbvTHFOjk

Photos and videos of Argentina’s footballers holding the banner went viral on social media and appeared on the front pages of news outlets around the world after the match. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) had banned political banners and messages inside the stadium.

Argentina defeated England 2-1, adding a new chapter to the football rivalry between the two countries that dates back to 1986, when the South American team, lead by Diego Maradona, eliminated the British in one of the most famous World Cup matches in history.

But, as in Mexico 1986, it was more than just a football game. Politics surrounded the entire encounter, creating tension on and off the pitch. 

After Argentina’s latest triumph, local media and fans used the victory to highlight the country’s claim over Malvinas, while UK outlets and even the government refused to discuss the matter.

“The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are,” the UK government spokesperson said. 

The debate, however, is far from over.

This is what you need to know about the Malvinas conflict.

Editorial disclaimer: Although the UK refers to the territory as the “Falkland Islands,” Argentina strongly contests this name. The Buenos Aires Herald uses “Malvinas” to refer to the islands.

What are the Malvinas Islands?

The Malvinas are the two main islands of an archipelago that also includes the South Georgias, the South Sandwich Islands, and around 700 smaller formations. They are located in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 500 kilometers from the Patagonian coast — an area that Buenos Aires considers part of the Argentine Sea.

The islands are on the Patagonian shelf, meaning they are geographically connected to continental Argentina.

They have been under British control since 1833 and currently have a population of around 3,600 people, most of whom are of British descent.

The UK considers them an overseas territory called the Falkland Islands, but they are self-governed. 

Argentina, however, has demanded sovereignty over the islands........

© Buenos Aires Herald