Argentina's President Javier Milei has declared that the nation will celebrate its World Cup campaign with a national holiday on a day chosen by the team, despite losing the final to Spain.
Spain were crowned 2026 World Cup champions after Ferran Torres scored the only goal in extra time, defeating Argentina 1-0. Lionel Scaloni's side struggled throughout the match, failing to register a single shot on target and playing much of the game with ten men after Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card.
Unprecedented Celebration for Second Place
While it is common for countries to declare a national holiday after winning the World Cup—Keir Starmer had promised a bank holiday if England ended their 60-year drought—celebrating a runner-up finish is highly unusual. Nevertheless, Argentina will proceed with the holiday.
President Milei posted on X: “Given the concern about the celebrations for the achievement reached by the Argentine National Team, I inform the population that, depending on what the Players and the Technical Staff decide regarding the day to celebrate, it will be declared a national holiday.”
The date of the holiday has yet to be determined, pending input from the squad and coaching staff.
Public Reaction and Confusion
The announcement has sparked confusion among Argentine citizens. Some questioned whether the post was made in error, while others noted that World Cup celebrations might be unlikely as players shift focus to the upcoming club season. Several joked that a day of national mourning might be more appropriate given the defeat.
In a separate post, Milei praised the team: “Thank you so much, players. (We fought) until the end with our boots on. Argentina always at the top.”
Milei did not attend the World Cup final, citing his superstitious nature.
