Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup Task Force, defended the right of Argentine national team players to raise a banner demanding sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, following the team's 2-1 victory over England in the 2026 World Cup semi-final.

The banner was initially in the possession of some fans before the players carried it onto the pitch during post-match celebrations. It read in Spanish: "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," meaning "The Falkland Islands are Argentine."

When asked whether he thought the players were wrong to raise the banner, Giuliani replied that they had the "ability" to do so, citing the principle of free speech guaranteed under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Responding to a question from Sky News, Giuliani said: "We believe in our rights under the First Amendment here in the United States of America. In terms of the ability and opportunity to make those statements, they have the right to do so within the United States."

In contrast, FIFA announced that it is reviewing match reports before deciding whether to punish the Argentine team, as the incident constitutes a potential violation of IFAB rules regarding political slogans and banners.

IFAB's law explicitly states: "Equipment must not carry any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images. Players must not reveal undergarments that show political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images."

Argentina is preparing to face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday, seeking to win the title for the second consecutive time after its triumph in the 2022 edition.