Argentina has shut down on Tuesday as the nation celebrates Lionel Messi and the men’s national team in their return from Qatar 2022, where they won the country’s third World Cup title and first since 1986.
December 20 was declared a national holiday in Argentina in time for the team to touch down at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires in the wee hours of the morning with thousands of people there to welcome them.
After a brief stop and rest at Argentina federation headquarters, the team will be heading on a bus to the famous Obelisco in Buenos Aires with millions expected.
The Sporting News will be covering the event and sharing highlights and the best moments as they happen. Here’s a live stream by Argentine outlet La Nacion.
Argentina World Cup celebration parade live coverage
9:58 a.m. ET: Here’s the view from above as the bus makes its way through the streets of Buenos Aires.
9:52 a.m. ET: The World Cup championship celebration tour in Buenos Aires is officially underway. We can’t quite make out the beverage in the hand of Leandro Paredes.
9:45 a.m. ET: It’s 11:45 a.m. local time in Buenos Aires and the party on the bus is already in full swing. Rodrigo De Paul leading the chorus.
9:00 a.m. ET: The team is ready to board the bus and make their way toward the Obelisco.
8:45 a.m. ET: There’s already a massive expectant crowd on hand and the team is an hour away from arriving.
8:05 a.m. ET: After plenty of speculation it’s now official that the team will not be passing by the Casa Rosada, home of the president of Argentina.
7:50 a.m. ET: The Ministry of Safety of Buenos Aires has indicated there won’t be a specific stage, stops or formal parade route, as a way to encourage fans to spread out as a massive crowd is expected to be concentrated at the Obelisco, where the team was reportedly set to arrive.
7:30 a.m. ET: Reports say that the team will be leaving federation headquarters between 10-10:30 a.m. ET and starting a celebratory tour that’s expected to last more than seven hours.
7:15 a.m. ET: Lionel Messi is finally up after what you imagine was another night with the trophy.
7:00 a.m. ET: It’ll be a historic day in Argentina with millions participating in the celebrations for the Argentina national team which will be making its way to the Obelisco in Buenos Aires in what is expected to be one of the greatest mass gatherings in the country as they celebrate the country’s third world title.
Here’s the video of their arrival in the early hours at the Buenos Aires airport: