Buenos Aires.- Tens of thousands of Argentines took to the streets this Sunday in different parts of the South American country to thank their national team for their performance in the 2026 World Cup and their dedication during the final in which La Albiceleste was defeated 1-0 by Spain.
Minutes after the final whistle that marked Argentina’s defeat against Spain, thousands of fans took to the streets of their cities and towns where they gathered despite the loss in the decisive duel that crowned Spain world champion.
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The main meeting point was the iconic Obelisk of the city of Buenos Aires, where fans from different parts of the Argentine capital quickly arrived and joined those who had gathered there during the game.
Tens of thousands held an impromptu celebration in the vicinity of the Obelisk with instruments and fireworks, singing and dancing despite the defeat that prevented the national team led by Lionel Scaloni from achieving a back-to-back championship.
“I am very happy and very proud of the country I have because even though we lost and are out of the final, we celebrate anyway, we celebrate like a victory,” Uriel Vignoles told EFE, one of those who came to express his gratitude to the team for their dedication against a solid Spanish side that was crowned champion after a goal in extra time by Ferran Torres.
“If we were a different kind of people, we would be sitting on the sidewalk crying, making a scene, and we are making a scene of joy because we value the effort of every player and that we were able to reach the final, and that is what makes us most proud,” he added, while behind him images of the players and fans in the United States were projected onto the Obelisk.
In the vicinity of the Obelisk, the atmosphere was not one of sadness and despair but rather festive, with those present chanting songs in support of the national team, such as the well-known ‘Muchachos’ or ‘La Cuarta Estrella’, which became the Argentine anthem at the 2026 World Cup.
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As more and more fans moved toward the Obelisk, chants of support for the national team could be heard on different avenues of the city, with countless impromptu celebrations on the pavement, to which drivers passing through the area reacted by honking in support and cheering from their windows.
In Rosario, Messi’s hometown, thousands gathered at the National Flag Memorial, upon which the colors of the Argentine jersey were projected, and waved their flags.
The scene was also replicated in other cities of the country, such as Mar del Plata or Córdoba, where fans jumped and hugged each other shouting ‘Argentina, Argentina’ wrapped in sky-blue and white flags, something that also happened in different places in the north of the country, such as the province of Tucumán.
“It’s a bit distressing, we were hoping to win, but always supporting the national team, let’s hope the next one happens,” Sol Monte told EFE, who approached the Buenos Aires Obelisk to thank, above all, Lionel Messi: “I would have loved for him to be champion, because it was his last (World Cup), but it doesn’t matter, we continue to support.”
