World Cup homecoming puts Argentina on hold

When Argentina's national soccer team landed in Buenos Aires on Tuesday after winning the World Cup, millions of Argentines flocked to greet the players. The government declared their homecoming a national holiday and the team began a 50-mile victory parade through the capital.

The team took toured the city in an open-top bus flanked by security guards, and players were seen beating drums and sipping viajeros, a local drink that combines Coca-Cola with Fernet, an Italian alcohol , swallowed from a cut plastic bottle. So many Argentines turned out to welcome the team, at least four million, according to local media, that the parade was stopped early as the streets were packed with people. Some supporters threw themselves off bridges in an attempt to board the open-top bus carrying the players, and one supporter died after falling from a city center monument during celebrations on Sunday night.

The tour ended with team members flying through the city in a helicopter instead. The celebrations have been constant since Sunday, when Argentina won their third World Cup title. On the night of the victory, more than a million people flocked to Avenida 9 de Julio, in the heart of the capital, chanting songs, honking cars and setting off fireworks.

Here are scenes from what could be the biggest outdoor party in the history of Buenos Aires.

— Ana Lankes

ImageCredit...Luis Robayo/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Lionel Messi and his teammates rode an open top bus towards the Obelisk, and with every step they were surrounded by thousands of fans.

Picture