The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has designated a national day to commemorate the team’s 2026 World Cup semi-final victory over England.The AFA announced that July 15 will be “National Football Teams Day” to mark Argentina’s late 2-1 win, which denied England a place in a first men’s World Cup final since 1966.The defending world champions came from behind in Atlanta to secure their spot in the showpiece, with Enzo Fernandez equalising in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez scored a stoppage-time winner. Anthony Gordon had put England ahead in the second half. Lionel Scaloni’s side were subsequently beaten 1-0 by Spain in the World Cup final.The proposal for the national day was approved unanimously by the AFA’s executive committee on Wednesday, three weeks after the victory. The AFA said July 15 had been selected to commemorate a “great and historic victory” which prompted celebrations across Argentina.It added that the annual occasion would recognise all of the country’s national teams, including its youth, women’s, futsal and beach football sides, rather than just the senior men’s team.The semi-final was the first meeting between Argentina and England in 21 years. The fixture carries added political significance and tension due to an ongoing dispute over the Falkland Islands. At full time, Argentina players celebrated with a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates to “The Falklands are Argentine”.The Falklands is a British dependency which lies around 300 miles (480 km) off the east coast of mainland Argentina.The dispute dates back to British invasions of Argentina in the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. Britain initially claimed the Falklands in 1774 and reasserted its rule in 1832. In 1982, Argentina’s military government invaded in an attempt to take the territory from the United Kingdom. The conflict lasted from April 2 to June 14 and ended with an Argentine surrender. In all, three civilians, 255 British and 649 Argentine troops died.The team’s parading of the banner is the subject of a FIFA disciplinary investigation. The AFA, Argentina players Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada, plus coach Roberto Ayala, are also being investigated after the altercations that broke out at full time.Argentina’s victory over England came 40 years after their quarter-final meeting at the 1986 World Cup, a match remembered for Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal and his famous second. Argentina also eliminated England at the last-16 stage of the 1998 edition, before England got the better of Argentina in the 2002 group stages.Aug 6, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms