What's happened
Argentine fans welcome the team back from the World Cup, with Messi absent from the flight. The AFA confirms some players won't join the homecoming. Crowds cheer despite a 1-0 loss to Spain and ongoing tensions over Falklands sovereignty.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The homecoming mixs celebration with disappointment, reflecting the team’s performance and ongoing political emotions tied to Falklands sovereignty.
- Messi’s absence during the flight underscores leadership questions and potential fatigue after a long season.
- The public’s tolerance for loss suggests strong national identity around football, potentially boosting support for the team and Mesi in the near term.
- Future: Argentina is likely to reassess squad plans and public messaging ahead of future fixtures; celebrations will be tempered by discussions of performance and leadership.
How we got here
Four years after their 2022 triumph, Argentina returns home after the World Cup final. Players travel from the airport to the AFA headquarters; Messi is not seen among the arriving squad. Public celebrations unfold in Buenos Aires, amidst reports of clashes at Obelisk as festivities continue.
Our analysis
The Japan Times reports that Messi was not seen on the flight and that some squad members would not be on the flight. Al Jazeera notes fans welcomed the team home despite Messi’s absence, and highlights the weathered sentiment after a narrow loss to Spain. Al Jazeera also covered the Obelisk celebrations and clashes late at night. A broader national mood around Argentina’s World Cup journey is captured in multiple outlets.
Go deeper
- Will Messi return as captain after this World Cup?”
- What does this homecoming mean for Scaloni’s squad selection ahead of the next fixtures?
- How might the Falklands dispute influence Argentina’s football diplomacy?
More on these topics
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Lionel Messi - Footballer
Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward and captains both Spanish club Barcelona and the Argentina national team.
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Argentina - Country in South America
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country located mostly in the southern half of South America. Sharing the bulk of the Southern Cone with Chile to the west, the country is also bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the
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Spain - Country
Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southwestern Europe with some pockets of territory across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean. Its continental European territory is situated on the Iberian Peninsula.
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AFA - Governing body of association football in Argentina
The Argentine Football Association (Spanish: Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, locally [asosjaˈsjon del ˈfuðβol aɾxenˈtino]; AFA) is the governing body of football in Argentina based in Buenos Aires. It organises the main divisions of Argentine lea