The Argentine National Team could not retain the world title, but the recognition from fans remained intact. After the 1-0 defeat against Spain in the final of the 2026 World Cup, thousands of people gathered at the Obelisk to thank the team led by Lionel Scaloni for another historic campaign.
After 7 PM, Avenida 9 de Julio began to fill with jerseys, flags, and drums. According to initial reports, around 7,000 people were in the area around 8 PM, just a few minutes after the awards ceremony ended.
The Obelisk was filled with grateful fans
Despite the cold, the rain, and the sadness over the result, supporters sang songs dedicated to the team and displayed Argentine flags over the Metrobus platforms. There were also applause, hugs, and expressions of gratitude for a team that returned to compete in a World Cup final after being crowned in Qatar 2022.
During the gathering, images of various moments featuring the National Team throughout the tournament were projected onto the Obelisk. The Teatro Colón, for its part, was also illuminated with sky blue and white colors, while the main arteries of downtown Buenos Aires remained closed due to the gathering.
Argentina fell in extra time due to a goal from Ferrán Torres in the 105th minute, after holding off much of the match against the Spanish team. The national team ended with ten players due to the controversial expulsion of Enzo Fernández and suffered injuries to Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero, two key pieces of the defense.
Argentine fans took over the Obelisk
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was once again one of the standout Argentine figures, with eleven interventions that kept the team in the match until the final minutes. However, the accumulated fatigue during the knockout rounds and the losses suffered during the final ultimately tipped the match in favor of Spain.
The crowd gathered at the Obelisk made it clear that the defeat did not erase the historic performance of the national team. Argentina did not achieve the fourth star, but fans recognized the dedication of a team that once again took the sky blue and white jersey to the highest level.
