Argentina, minus Messi, return home after World Cup final heartbreak

What the report says

Al Jazeera, carrying AFP reporting, said thousands of supporters gathered in cold, rainy weather near the Argentine Football Association training complex in Ezeiza, outside Buenos Aires, on July 20, 2026, to receive Argentina’s national football team after its World Cup final defeat in the United States. The squad returned after losing 1-0 to Spain, but captain Lionel Messi and several other players were not seen among those arriving.

According to the report, the AFA had said earlier Monday that some members of the squad would not be aboard the return flight. Coach Lionel Scaloni and the players who did arrive were met at the aircraft with a red carpet and a military band. Fans outside the complex carried national flags and blue-and-white umbrellas, a markedly different scene from the mass celebrations that followed Argentina’s 2022 World Cup title.

Supporters quoted by AFP framed the reception as an expression of gratitude rather than celebration. Several praised Messi’s contribution to Argentina over the years and urged him to continue with the national team. Others said the side’s semifinal victory over England had particular emotional significance, given the long-running Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom.

Al Jazeera also reported that many fans had gone to the Obelisk in Buenos Aires after Sunday’s loss, where celebrations continued for hours despite the disappointment. Police sources said late-night clashes at the monument led officers to use water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets, and 15 people were detained.