Argentina return home to hero's welcome after FIFA WC 2026 final heartbreak
Synopsis
Argentina lost the FIFA World Cup 2026 final 1-0 to Spain — but thousands still lined the streets of Ezeiza to welcome them home with red carpets, military bands, and Messi jerseys. The captain himself was absent, deepening questions about whether the world just witnessed his final game for the Albiceleste.
Key Takeaways
Argentina returned to Ezeiza on 21 July after finishing as FIFA World Cup 2026 runners-up, losing 1-0 to Spain in the final at MetLife Stadium, New York .
The squad received a red carpet and Grenadier Regiment welcome on the tarmac, with the band playing 'Muchachos' .
Captain Lionel Messi , 39 , was not part of the returning delegation — raising speculation about his international future.
Returning players included Emiliano Martinez , Alexis Mac Allister , Lisandro Martinez , and Nicolas Otamendi , among others.
Thousands of fans lined the route to the Lionel Andres Messi Training Centre , many waiting hours to greet the team.
Argentina, runners-up at the FIFA World Cup 2026, were accorded a grand homecoming at Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Ezeiza on 21 July, complete with a red carpet and a military band — even as the pain of a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final at MetLife Stadium, New York lingered fresh. Thousands of supporters massed outside the Argentine Football Association (AFA) offices near the airport to receive the squad, underscoring the nation's unbroken bond with its team despite the title slipping away.
Tarmac Welcome and the Grenadier Regiment
After landing, the delegation's aircraft was directed to the private flight area (FBO) to manage the arrival smoothly. Coach Lionel Scaloni and the returning players stepped onto a red carpet on the tarmac, greeted by the Grenadier Regiment playing 'Muchachos' — the anthem that became synonymous with Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph. The moment was both celebratory and bittersweet, a nation saluting effort over outcome.
Messi's Absence Looms Large
Conspicuously absent from the returning delegation was captain Lionel Messi, 39, who the AFA had confirmed would not travel back with the squad. Fans still flooded the streets in his number 10 jersey, clutching white-and-blue umbrellas, a visual reminder of just how central he remains to Argentine football's identity. His absence fuelled widespread speculation that the FIFA World Cup 2026 final may have been his last appearance for the Albiceleste.
Players Who Returned
Among the delegation members who made the journey home were goalkeepers Emiliano Martinez and Juan Musso, defenders Nicolás Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Marcos Senesi, and Valentin Barco, midfielders Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo Celso, and Thiago Almada, as well as forwards Cristian Medina, Nicolas Gonzalez, and Jose Manuel Lopez. The group travelled under heavy security throughout.
Open-Top Bus Parade to Messi Training Centre
From the airport, players and coaching staff boarded an open-top bus, winding through streets lined with hundreds of families, friend groups, and supporters waving jerseys, flags, and drums — many of whom had waited for several hours just to catch a glimpse of the team. The convoy proceeded to the Lionel Andres Messi Training Centre, where AFA officials and complex staff formally concluded the return operation. The scenes were a testament to Argentine football culture: runners-up treated with the warmth typically reserved for champions.
What Comes Next
Argentina's defeat ends their bid to defend the title they won in Qatar 2022, and attention will now turn to the future of the squad — particularly whether Messi will formally announce his international retirement. Coach Scaloni faces the task of rebuilding around a younger core while managing the emotional and tactical transition beyond the Messi era.
Point of View
The runners-up are not failures. But the real story here is Messi's absence — and what it signals. At 39, having potentially played his last World Cup final, his exit from the national team would mark the end of an era that redefined Argentine identity on the global stage. Scaloni now inherits a squad respected but not yet feared without Messi. The transition question — who leads this team emotionally and tactically in the next cycle — is one Argentine football cannot defer much longer.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Argentina receive a hero's welcome despite losing the World Cup final?
Argentina were runners-up at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final, but fans still turned out in their thousands at Ezeiza to honour the team's campaign. Argentine football culture has a strong tradition of rallying behind the national side regardless of the result.
Was Lionel Messi part of the returning Argentina squad?
No. Lionel Messi, 39, did not travel back with the delegation. The AFA had confirmed ahead of the return that several players, including Messi, would not be part of the travelling group, fuelling speculation that the World Cup 2026 final may have been his last match for Argentina.
Where did Argentina land after the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The squad landed at Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Ezeiza, where they were welcomed on the tarmac by the Grenadier Regiment before proceeding via open-top bus to the Lionel Andres Messi Training Centre.
Which Argentina players returned home after the World Cup 2026?
Among those who returned were Emiliano Martinez, Juan Musso, Nicolás Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Marcos Senesi, Valentin Barco, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo Celso, Thiago Almada, Cristian Medina, Nicolas Gonzalez, and Jose Manuel Lopez.
What happens to Argentina after the 2026 World Cup exit?
Argentina now face a period of transition, with coach Lionel Scaloni expected to begin rebuilding around a younger core. The central question is whether Lionel Messi will formally retire from international football, which would mark the end of the most successful era in Argentine football history.
