FIFA has issued a fresh statement regarding England following the Three Lions' victory against France in the third-place play-off of the 2026 World Cup. Thomas Tuchel's side bounced back from semi-final heartbreak to beat France and secure a first-ever third-place finish, edging a 10-goal thriller in Miami.
FIFA Congratulates England on Historic Finish
After the win, FIFA took to social media to congratulate England on their achievement. A statement read: “Congratulations to @England, third place at @FIFAWorldCup 2026! Their best finish since winning the tournament in 1966.” The result marked a positive end to England's 2026 campaign, though the match's significance was lost on some observers.
Argentina's Falklands Banner Sparks Controversy
The statement comes after FIFA was forced to address the behaviour of Argentina's players following Wednesday's semi-final. Some members of the Argentina squad displayed a banner reading: 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas' (The Falklands are Argentine), prompting immediate calls for punishment. FIFA confirmed that its independent disciplinary committee is assessing the matter. A statement read: "As is standard procedure, Fifa's independent disciplinary committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the Fifa disciplinary code."
Outrage in the Falkland Islands and UK
The banner caused outrage in the United Kingdom and on the Falkland Islands themselves. Jack Ford, Chair of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, wrote a letter addressing the incident. He stated: "I am writing on behalf of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, the democratically elected body representing the people of the Falkland Islands, regarding a matter following the England v Argentina game on the 15th of July 2026. Following Argentina's victory, members of the Argentina squad displayed a sign reading 'Las Malvinas Son Argentinas' in what was a clear political statement relating to the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. Videos were also leaked following their Argentina v Egypt fixture in which the Argentinian squad sang chants about the Falkland Islands in their locker rooms. We are disappointed, though regrettably not surprised, by this manner of action, as this is not the first such incident: the Argentine Football Association was sanctioned for £20,000 by FIFA in 2014 for comparable conduct."
World Cup Final Ahead
Argentina face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday, with Lionel Messi and co. aiming for back-to-back titles. If Spain win, it would mark their second World Cup triumph in what is only their second World Cup final.
