Thousands of Argentina fans filled the streets of Buenos Aires after their team’s dramatic 2-1 victory over England sent them into the FIFA World Cup final.
The celebrations began moments after Lautaro Martinez scored the winning goal in stoppage time in Atlanta.
Fans poured into the city centre despite cold winter rain. Many waved Argentina flags, sang famous football songs and lit fireworks. Others climbed traffic lights and lamp posts as the celebrations spread across the capital.
Some supporters cried with joy while others danced with complete strangers.
Rosana Beto Cruz, a 48 year old Catholic nun, joined the huge crowd heading towards the famous Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires.
“Look around at all these strangers, jumping and dancing together,” she said.
“The World Cup, our national team, it makes this happen.”
Argentina will now face Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final as the defending champions chase another title.
For many supporters, however, the joy came from beating England as much as reaching another final.
The football rivalry between the two countries has long been linked to the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas, and the 1982 war between the two nations.
“This is not just about football, it’s about beating the country that broke our hearts,” said Maria Bertero, 40.
“My heart still aches for all the young boys who were sent to their deaths.”
She said the victory filled her with pride.
“It’s tremendous. It’s magic. It makes me proud to be Argentine.”
The celebrations also came after weeks of criticism on social media, where some users claimed Argentina had received help from officials during the tournament.
There is no evidence to support those claims.
Jorge Luis Lema dismissed the accusations after watching the match in a bar in Buenos Aires.
“All this talk about it being fixed, about FIFA being involved, have they even looked at what’s happening on the field? How much we’ve suffered?” he said.
“It’s a lie. Football is football. Whoever wins, wins. And Argentina won once again.”
Many supporters also remembered Diego Maradona, whose famous performance against England at the 1986 World Cup remains one of the greatest moments in Argentina’s football history.
Others praised Lionel Messi after the captain inspired another comeback with two assists.
“Seeing Messi playing football like this, at his age, it just leaves me speechless,” said 28 year old Matias Adorno.
“As Argentines, we’ve always put so much pressure on him. But he’s given us absolutely everything.”
President Javier Milei also welcomed the victory.
“They won a match that is very important from an emotional standpoint,” Milei said.
“It’s an immense joy, an overwhelming emotion that’s impossible to describe.”
For many people across Argentina, the celebrations offered a rare moment of unity at a time when the country continues to face political divisions and economic hardship.
Families, children and elderly supporters gathered together in the streets, turning Buenos Aires into a sea of blue and white as Argentina moved one step closer to another World Cup title.
