IBNS-CMEDIA: Riots broke out in parts of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, late Sunday night after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final, prompting police to detain several people, according to media reports.
Thousands of fans had gathered across the city to watch the final, hoping Lionel Messi and Argentina would retain their World Cup crown.
🇦🇷 Émeutes à Buenos Aires après la finale de la Coupe du monde
Mécontents de la défaite de leur équipe, les #Argentins ont donné libre court à leur colère.
Selon les médias locaux, trois policiers ont été blessés et 15 personnes ont été arrêtées. pic.twitter.com/v1d0zhzzU7— RT en français (@RTenfrancais) July 20, 2026
However, Spain emerged victorious, defeating Argentina 1-0 to deny the South American side back-to-back World Cup titles.
The celebrations-turned-gatherings remained largely peaceful until around 11:45 p.m., when clashes reportedly erupted between police and fans, The Mirror reported, citing Argentine newspaper Infobae.
Violence was also reported near the iconic Obelisk, the national monument that traditionally serves as the focal point for major celebrations and public events, after a group of supporters allegedly attempted to breach security fencing erected around the site.
According to a post by Telegraph Football on X, angry Argentina supporters hurled rocks and bottles at police following the team’s defeat.
Angry Argentina fans threw rocks and bottles at police in Buenos Aires on Sunday night, after their team lost the World Cup final to Spain.
Thousands of supporters spilt out on to the streets after the match, with crowds gathering at the Obelisk monument in support of their… pic.twitter.com/GSvqRbsGrz— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) July 20, 2026
Several unverified videos purportedly showing the unrest have since gone viral across social media platforms. Authorities have not yet confirmed the authenticity of the footage or released an official tally of arrests or injuries.
