After Argentina’s national football team beat France’s 4–2 on penalties in Qatar, winning their third World Cup title, they returned to Buenos Aires to attend a victory celebration, planning to tour the streets of the city in an open bus. Millions of fans gathered in the streets and squares to cheer for their treasured team led by captain Lionel Messi. But the huge number of people exceeded expectations, and security concerns led organizers to cancel the parade early and evacuate the team by helicopter, disappointing supporters across the city.
Photos: Argentina’s World Cup Victory Celebration
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![A huge crowd of fans jams up against a bus carrying Argentina's soccer team.]()
Read moreThe Argentine national soccer team—winners of the World Cup—rides in an open bus during their homecoming parade in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 20, 2022. #
Rodrigo Abd / AP -
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![An Argentina fan plays the trumpet in a crowd of fans.]()
Read moreAn Argentina fan plays the trumpet ahead of the World Cup–victory parade in Buenos Aires on December 20, 2022. #
Cristina Sille / Reuters -
![An elevated view of a downtown area with a large mural of a soccer player on one building, and the streets filled with people walking.]()
Read moreA mural of Diego Maradona is seen in Buenos Aires as fans gather for the victory parade on December 20, 2022. #
Agustin Marcarian / Reuters -
![A crowd of people gather in a city street around a large replica of a golden trophy.]()
Read moreArgentina fans gather near the Obelisco holding a World Cup–trophy replica after the victory parade was canceled and Argentina players departed. #
Mariana Nedelcu / Reuters -
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![A large crowd of people gather in a broad city square.]()
Read moreAn aerial view of Argentina fans gathering at the Obelisco as they wait for the victory parade in Buenos Aires #
Marcelo Endelli / Getty -
![An open bus carries a soccer team on a road past many thousands of people.]()
Read moreArgentina's players celebrate with supporters on December 20, 2022, on board a bus with a sign reading "World Champions." #
Tomas Cuesta / AFP / Getty -
![Three soccer players sit atop a bus, waving and holding a trophy.]()
Read moreArgentine players Rodrigo De Paul (left), Lionel Messi (center), and Cristian Romero (right) celebrate on the bus with supporters on December 20, 2022. #
Tomas Cuesta / AFP / Getty -
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![An Argentina fan is pictured on top of a street lamp above a large crowd below.]()
Read moreAn Argentina fan is pictured on top of a streetlamp as fans celebrate below during the victory parade. #
Gonzalo Colini / Reuters -
![A bus with people on top passes by a huge crowd of fans.]()
Read moreThe bus passes by a crowd in Buenos Aires on December 20, 2022. #
Victor Caivano / AP -
![A fan waves the flag of Argentina while standing on top of a traffic light.]()
Read moreA fan waves the flag of Argentina from the top of a traffic light during the victory parade. #
Cristina Sille / Reuters -
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![A crowd of people celebrate and throw water in the air.]()
Read moreArgentina fans celebrate in Buenos Aires on December 20, 2022. #
Mariana Nedelcu / Reuters -
![A fan of Argentina sits atop a monument, gesturing broadly, one arm reached out.]()
Read moreA fan of Argentina climbs a monument to celebrate as fans gather for the victory parade. #
Marcelo Endelli / Getty -
![An aerial view of a tall monument, with thousands of people gathering below.]()
Read moreAn aerial view of the Obelisco in the Plaza de la República in Buenos Aires, as fans gather in huge numbers #
Marcelo Endelli / Getty -
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![About a dozen people sit and hang from several street lights above a huge crowd of soccer fans.]()
Read moreArgentinians celebrate, climbing atop streetlights on December 20, 2022. #
Diego Radames / Anadolu Agency / Getty -
![Soccer fans are seen reflected in the sunglasses of another fan.]()
Read moreA fan of Argentina waits for the bus with Argentina's players on it to pass by. #
Emiliano Lasalvia / AFP / Getty -
![A huge crowd flies blue-and-white Argentina flags.]()
Read moreArgentinians celebrate their team's World Cup victory in Buenos Aires on December 20, 2022. #
Diego Radames / Anadolu Agency / Getty -
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![An aerial view of broad city streets and squares filled with people.]()
Read moreAn aerial view of fans gathering near the Obelisco on December 20, 2022 #
Matias Baglietto / AFP / Getty -
![People climb on the poles of street lamps above a huge crowd of soccer fans.]()
Read moreArgentinians celebrate in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 20, 2022. #
Diego Radames / Anadolu Agency / Getty -
![Hundreds of soccer fans sit and stand along a city street.]()
Read moreArgentina fans await the victory parade. #
Agustin Marcarian / Reuters -
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![A couple embraces a gold trophy between them, leaning in to kiss it on either side.]()
Read moreArgentina fans kiss a replica World Cup trophy after the victory parade was canceled and Argentina players departed, on December 20, 2022. #
Gonzalo Colini / Reuters
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