Argentina could not defend its World Cup title, losing 1–0 to Spain in the final. As players left the pitch, downtown Buenos Aires turned into a battleground between fans and police, with bottles, stones, tear gas, and water cannons deployed, reports infohub.kz.

Before the final whistle, thousands gathered at the Obelisk, Argentina's main football celebration spot. Despite the loss, many came not to protest but to support the national team, which reached the final for the second consecutive World Cup. People sang, waved flags, and chanted Lionel Messi's name.

According to Argentine media, the unrest began near midnight when some fans tried to climb over barriers around the Obelisk. Bottles and stones were thrown at police, who responded with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets. The clashes lasted about half an hour and spread over several blocks, up to Avenida de Mayo. Broken bottles, garbage, remnants of pyrotechnics, and football paraphernalia were left on the streets.

Local outlets reported at least 12–15 arrests. Several injuries were reported among fans and police, but official figures on the number of wounded were not disclosed.

Emotions had already spilled over before fans took to the streets. After the final whistle, a scuffle broke out between Argentine and Spanish players. Midfielder Leandro Paredes received a red card after the match ended, and the game concluded with a series of conflicts between players from both sides.

Incidents had plagued Argentina throughout the knockout stage. After the semifinal victory over England, a group of fans vandalized and set fire to a historic school in the Buenos Aires suburbs, and after the team reached the quarterfinals, clashes with police and mass arrests also occurred at the Obelisk.

For many Argentines, this final was not just about the title but likely Lionel Messi's last World Cup. That is why even after the loss, thousands took to the streets not only out of frustration but also to thank a generation of players that gave the country another World Cup final appearance.

Earlier, we reported that Spain won the World Cup.