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Most members of Argentina’s national football team returned home on Monday following their defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Airport authorities confirmed the squad’s arrival, although the Argentine Football Association (AFA) had earlier indicated that some players would not be on the return flight. Captain Lionel Messi was among those absent.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni and the rest of the team were received on a red carpet, with a military band welcoming them at the airport.
Outside the AFA headquarters near the airport, fans defied cold weather and rain to greet the players, waving Argentine flags and sheltering under blue-and-white umbrellas.
Although the team missed out on retaining the World Cup after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Spain, many supporters turned out to express appreciation for the players’ efforts.
Some fans also highlighted Argentina’s 2-1 semi-final victory over England as one of the tournament’s defining moments, given the long-running dispute between the two countries over the Falkland Islands.
“This team united us all, and we should be grateful for that. We will always be there for them, rain or shine. I would say thank you to Messi and that he gave it his all,” said Leonardo Barrientos, 36, who works in a textile workshop.
The World Cup final has drawn criticism from sections of the international media over the number of fouls committed and the conduct of some Argentine players during the match.
Despite the disappointment, thousands of supporters gathered at Buenos Aires’ iconic Obelisk on Sunday night to celebrate the team’s campaign with fireworks and chants.
The celebrations later turned violent, with police using water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds after clashes broke out. Police said 15 people were arrested.
