Argentina to declare national holiday for World Cup runners-up celebration, says Milei

Argentina will be given a national holiday on the day Lionel Messi and his team-mates choose to celebrate with fans following their World Cup final defeat to Spain, President Javier Milei has announced.

Milei said the country would stop work to honour the national team’s run to the 2026 World Cup final, which ended in a 1-0 loss after extra time in New Jersey.

In a post on social media, the president wrote: “نظرا للقلق بشان الاحتفالات بالانجاز الذي حققه الفريق الارجنتيني، ابلغ الجمهور انه، بناء على ما يقرره اللاعبون والجهاز التدريبي بشان يوم الاحتفال، سيتم اعلانه عطلة وطنية”، adding: “شكرا جزيلا لكم ايها اللاعبون، سنبذل قصارى جهدنا حتى النهاية، ستبقى الارجنتين دايما في الصدارة”.

The move underlines the government’s desire to acknowledge the achievement of reaching a second consecutive World Cup final and the emotional bond between the team and the nation.

Team return amid uncertainty over celebrations

Lionel Scaloni’s squad are due to arrive back in Argentina on Monday afternoon, with their flight expected around 17:00 local time.

However, there is still no official confirmation on when and where any celebrations with supporters will take place, or what form they will take.

In a formal statement, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said some players would fly straight from the United States to different destinations to rejoin their clubs or begin their holidays.

Another part of the delegation – including players, coaching staff and other officials – will return to Argentina, but the AFA did not specify where the group would go after landing, nor whether a mass gathering with fans was planned.

Government had prepared for title celebrations

In the days leading up to the final, Milei had already offered the Casa Rosada, the seat of the Argentine government, as a potential stage for title celebrations from the presidential balcony if the team had retained the world crown.

He also said that the General Secretariat of the Presidency, led by Karina Milei, and the military household were working to facilitate any celebrations, while the Security Ministry and federal forces had started to draw up a special operational plan for the squad’s return.

As part of those preparations, the AFA announced on Saturday the suspension of all football matches scheduled for Monday and Tuesday across every category of the domestic game, in order to prioritise the national team’s journey home.

Tens of thousands on the streets despite defeat

Despite the extra-time defeat, which came courtesy of a Ferran Torres goal for Spain, tens of thousands of Argentines poured onto streets and into public squares across the country on Sunday.

They gathered to show their backing and gratitude to the players for reaching the final and coming close to a second straight World Cup triumph.

The AFA, in its statement, voiced “امتنان عميق لكل ارجنتيني رافق الفريق خلال كاس العالم 2026”، stressing that “المودة التي تلقيناها طوال الرحلة، والاعلام، والرسايل، والقوافل، والاحضان، والدعم غير المشروط، اثبتت مرة اخرى ان المنتخب الوطني هو ارث جميع الارجنتينيين”.

Milei’s praise for Messi and Scaloni

Milei reserved special words of thanks for captain Lionel Messi, who once again led Argentina at a major tournament at the age of 39.

He told Radio Mitre that Messi had brought “افراح هايلة” to the country, adding: “ان الشخص الذي امضى اكثر من 20 عاما في اعلى مستويات رياضة معينة يستحق الاعجاب، علاوة على ذلك، فقد جلب سعادة غامرة لجميع الارجنتينيين ولكل من يستمتع بكرة القدم الجيدة”.

The president also lauded coach Lionel Scaloni, who has hinted he may step down and said he needs “some time” to decide his future and speak with AFA president Claudio Tapia.

Milei described Scaloni as “شخص متميز”، و“قايد استثنايي”، saying he hopes the coach “يتبع قلبه ويحقق السعادة وكل الانجازات التي يرغب فيها في الحياة”.

As the country awaits clarity over the date and format of any homecoming festivities, Milei’s pledge of a national holiday ensures that, whenever Argentina’s World Cup squad chooses to celebrate, the nation will be officially invited to join them.