Argentina president Javier Milei has announced a national holiday to mark the country’s World Cup campaign, despite Lionel Scaloni’s side losing the final 1-0 to Spain in extra time.
The exact date of the celebration will be left to the players and coaching staff to decide, Milei said. Argentina fell to a Ferran Torres strike in extra time on Monday (20 July), having failed to register a single shot on goal in normal time before finishing the match with 32 percent possession following Enzo Fernandez’s red card for a foul on Pau Cubarsi.
Milei had previously said he would not attend the final in person, citing his own superstitious beliefs, having also skipped Argentina’s semi-final win over England. Writing on X after the defeat, he said, “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 announcement drew a mixed reaction, with some supporters questioning whether a runner up finish warranted a public holiday at all, and others suggesting players would likely prefer to return to their club commitments rather than take part in celebrations. In a separate post, Milei defended the squad’s efforts throughout the tournament. “Thank you so much, players. We fought until the end with our boots on. Argentina always at the top,” he wrote.
Argentina reached the final after topping their group and eliminating Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and England in the knockout rounds. Captain Lionel Messi finished the tournament as runner up to Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot, and it remains widely expected, though not yet confirmed, that Sunday’s final marked his sixth and last World Cup appearance. Argentina’s coaching staff are now expected to turn their attention toward developing new talent as the team’s experienced core, including 39 year old Messi, considers its international future.
