Jubilant celebrations after Argentina's dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Egypt in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 descended briefly into violence in downtown Buenos Aires on Tuesday, with at least nine people arrested following incidents with police.
Thousands of supporters flooded to the City’s famous Obelisk, the traditional meeting point for football celebrations in the capital, after Lionel Scaloni's side secured a place in the quarter-finals with a goal in added time.
The festivities, however, later turned violent when a group of people began throwing bottles and stones at Buenos Aires City Police officers, prompting security forces to intervene and disperse the crowd.
Police sources said at least nine people were arrested on charges including assault and resisting authority, causing damage and inflicting injuries. A large security operation remained in place around the Obelisk and neighbouring streets as officers sought to prevent further disturbances.
Authorities said police had also responded to reports of robberies in the area before the violence escalated.
Officials said they were still investigating what triggered the unrest, which began while celebrations were ongoing.
Police sources told local media many of those involved appeared to be heavily intoxicated.
Elsewhere in Buenos Aires Province, a 46-year-old man was killed during celebrations in the town of Cañuelas, reported Noticias Argentinas.
Police identified the victim as Franco De Pauli, who suffered a fatal head injury during a fight in the town centre. According to preliminary witness statements, De Pauli had attempted to intervene to break up an altercation before being struck.
A 20-year-old suspect, identified by police as Iván Nahuel Lebrero, was arrested and faces a homicide investigation, sources told the news agency.
There was no initial political reaction to the mayhem at the Obelisk, though, party leaders and lawmakers praised the national team in posts on social media.
President Javier Milei celebrated Argentina's comeback victory in a post on social media, writing: "Come on Argentina! What a way to suffer."
Speaking later in a radio interview, Milei praised the team's resilience after recovering from two goals down, saying he had never lost faith in the reigning world champions and describing their fightback as "historic."
Frente Renovador leader Sergio Massa paid tribute to the Selección for “never give up” attitude, while PRO leader Mauricio Macri thanked Scaloni’s squad.
“Thank you, lads!!! This group of people – the players and the coaching staff – have already given us so much joy that it’s beyond anything one could have imagined. My goodness, what guts they showed!!! It was a real nail-biter. Come on, Argentina!!!” posted Macri on X.
Left-wing lawmaker Myriam Bregman called on the president of Boca Juniors, legendary former player Juan Román Riquelme, to “open La Bombonera so we can go and applaud” national team midfielder Leandro Paredes, who made a crucial tackle in the closing moments of the game.
Reacting to the result, Salta Province Governor Gustavo Sáenz spoke of his “pride of being Argentine” and “of carrying these colours in our hearts.”
– TIMES/PERFIL/NA
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