Buenos Aires celebrates as hundreds of thousands of fans flood the streets after Argentina qualifies for the final

Buenos Aires turned into a city-wide celebration after Argentina qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Hundreds of thousands of fans flooded the streets of the capital to celebrate the 2-1 victory over England in the semifinals, securing Argentina's place in a second consecutive World Cup final and a third in the last 12 years.

In a country where football is considered a religion and Lionel Messi is the undisputed icon, the celebrations reached extraordinary levels. The epicenter was 9 de Julio Avenue, while Buenos Aires' famous Obelisk was surrounded by thousands of sky-blue and white flags and jubilant supporters singing nonstop.

The atmosphere was electrified by traditional Argentine chants such as "Muchachos," "Olé, olé, olé, Messi, Messi," and "He who doesn't jump is English," while the tournament's new anthem, "La cuarta estrella" ("The Fourth Star"), echoed through the crowd. Car horns and fireworks accompanied the celebrations late into the night.

To ensure public safety, authorities had implemented strict security measures around the Obelisk before kickoff. Around 800 police officers were deployed, and central Buenos Aires was almost completely closed to vehicle traffic.

The celebrations were not limited to the capital. Cities across Argentina saw spontaneous street parties, with thousands of fans gathering to celebrate the success of Lionel Scaloni's national team.

Attention now turns to Sunday's final, where Argentina will face Spain. La Albiceleste will be aiming to win its fourth World Cup title and a second consecutive crown, extending the golden era led by Lionel Messi.

“KORÇA BOOM”