Scaloni on Messi taking penalties, VAR controversies, Switzerland clash
No team had ever recovered from a 2-0 deficit with so little time remaining in a World Cup match, but Argentina refused to let Messi's tournament story come to an end.
by Agustino Fontevecchia World Cups don’t occur in a vacuum. Rather, they are an integral part of the construction of cultural subjectivity across the globe given the prevalence and capillarity of football. Argentina’s central role in global football and its obsessed population add complexity and intensity.
Reigning champions are the only non-European side left in the tournament and must overcome Switzerland to keep Lionel Messi’s dream alive.
A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.
Foreign relations & diplomacy
In addition to Washington, signatories included Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago.
POLITICS & ECONOMY
President says Argentina is entering a "Second Independence" as he outlines new reform agenda and praises his "cabinet of patriots."
As I see it
From ancient times, periods of relative stability in which one big power was strong enough to maintain a semblance of order in the region it dominated have alternated with others marked by strife like the one we appear to be sliding into right now.
With next year’s election set to offer a referendum on President Javier Milei’s reformist agenda, some influential business leaders and opposition figures are discussing the possibility that violent shifts of policy are coming to an end – regardless of who prevails in the 2027 vote.
Multilateral lender welcomes Milei administration's proposal for Central Bank; IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will visit Argentina on July 28 and 29.
Multilateral lender’s chief Kristalina Georgieva to visit Buenos Aires this month; International Monetary Fund sees Argentina’s economy expanding 4% in 2027.
US-Argentine firm Meitner Energy will invest US$1.2 billion in a 300-megawatt modular reactor at the Atucha site, the government announced on Tuesday.; News comes as the National Atomic Energy Commission faces a labour dispute over dozens of lay-offs.
Submarine force commander Claudio Villamide handed three-year suspended sentence for negligence and breach of duties; Three other Navy officers acquitted.
Government is seeking support to advance with its electoral reform push ahead of next voting cycle; Senate to have final say on potential suspension of compulsory primaries.
President begins to trail new legislative package that would allow government to “shut down” as in United States and ban the Central Bank from printing money.
Fundación Faro presented itself as a platform of ideas. But the libertarian think tank’s opaque finances, links to key Milei insiders and 400-fold surge in donations have left the organisation facing uncomfortable questions from regulators and judges.
Joyous celebrations at Buenos Aires' Obelisk marred by incidents between fans and police; At least nine arrested, according to local media.
columnists
Vaca Muerta overtakes agriculture – and it will finance Argentina’s future
by Carlos Burgueño
From refuge to destination: How ‘Barrio Chino’ found its place in Buenos Aires
by Patricia Daniele
How Netflix is rewriting Argentina’s screen industry
by Mariano Casas Di Nardo
Salta honours legacy of Dr. Joseph Redhead
by John Hunter
Andrés Gil Domínguez: ‘Eliminating the PASO primaries would strip opposition of tool to unify’
by Jorge Fontevecchia National deputy says Javier Milei’s government "has covered up Manuel Adorni’s corruption," that voters have fallen out of love with La Libertad Avanza and that Karina Milei, the President’s sister, is the one who’s really in charge in Argentina.
by Jorge Fontevecchia Veteran Peronist and national deputy analyses the social impact of austerity and anticipates strong polarisation between President Javier Milei’s administration and a Peronism united under a model of "productive capitalism" in next year’s election.
editorials
WORLD CUP 2026
"Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running," says Egypt coach Hossam Hassan after dramatic loss to Argentina.
WORLD CUP 2026
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni was unable to speak to the media, overcome with emotion and in tears, after thrilling comeback against Egypt.
World Cup 2026
Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to a stunning late comeback as the reigning champions beat Egypt 3-2 on Tuesday to reach the World Cup quarter-finals; Match swung by controversial VAR call against African side.
Argentina survived a huge scare from World Cup first-timers Cape Verde in the last 32. They will hope to resume normal service against Egypt – who have never been beyond the round of 16.
REM market expectations survey of consultancy firms, economists and experts forecasts 2026 annual inflation of 30%, with peso trading at 1,673 per US dollar by year-end.
Leandro Paredes, Nicolás Tagliafico and Julián Álvarez set to return to starting line-up for clash against Egypt.
Milei administration is targeting investment-grade status for Argentina by the end of a potential second term in 2031, announces minister.
FIFA boss slammed for controversial decision to suspend US star Folarin Balogun's one-game ban; Ruling, which came after the intervention of Donald Trump, permits striker to play in the co-hosts' World Cup last 16 match with Belgium.
Milei’s new Cabinet chief must negotiate with governors and opposition caucuses over controversial reform that would eliminate compulsory primaries.
Lionel Scaloni's side escaped a major scare against Cape Verde, but their dependence on Lionel Messi remains a growing concern ahead of a last-16 meeting with Mohamed Salah's Egypt.
President will travel to Lima and Bogotá for inauguration ceremonies; Milei welcomes election victories of Keiko Fujimori and Abelardo de la Espriella as signs of a broader right-ward shift in Latin America.
Eleven days after the devastating twin earthquakes, rescue teams are starting to wrap up searches for survivors while families still try to recover bodies of loved ones from the rubble.
Argentina's coach says defeat to Cape Verde would have been "madness"; World champions survived extra-time thriller to reach the World Cup last 16, where they will face Egypt.
Cristian Romero's header in injury time secures 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in extra time; African side impressed in hard-fought contest in Miami, but Argentina's resilience and never-say-die attitude saw them through.
Pumas, ranked fifth in the latest World Rugby rankings, to take on sport's leading nations in the Nations Championship, which starts this weekend.
Central Bank extends maturities worth US$6 billion on its repurchase agreements to ease the government debt burden.
Javier Milei first sitting Argentine president to attend US Embassy’s annual party in Buenos Aires; Ambassador Peter Lamelas hails relationship between two nations as United States marks 250 years of US independence.
Argentines overwhelmingly disapprove of how President Milei handled corruption scandal involving his former Cabinet chief, according to a new poll.
