The Argentine Football Association has declared 15 July "National Football Teams Day" to commemorate Argentina's 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory over England in Atlanta. England had taken a 55th-minute lead through Anthony Gordon, but Argentina scored twice late on, in the 85th and 92nd minutes, to deny Thomas Tuchel's side a first World Cup final since 1966. The result, coming 40 years after Argentina's controversial 1986 quarter-final win over England, reignited political sensitivities after some Argentine players celebrated with a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" ("The Falklands are Argentine").

The Falklands remain a British Overseas Territory whose sovereignty is disputed between the UK and Argentina, following the 1982 conflict that killed 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen, as well as three islanders, after Argentina's military junta invaded. A 2013 referendum saw 99.8% of Falkland Islanders vote to remain under UK rule. Argentina went on to lose the World Cup final 1-0 to Spain, while England beat France 6-4 to finish third.