BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentines taking to the streets to revel in their Copa América triumph late Sunday inhabit a very different place now than they did 19 months ago, when their World Cup win sent millions surging into the same Buenos Aires square in a howl of collective celebration.
“Glorious,” Diego Cáceres, 38, recalled of Argentina’s massive open-air party on December 18, 2022.
“This is beautiful, too,” he said of Sunday’s crowds cheering and setting off fireworks around the capital’s landmark obelisk after Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 in extra time to win its third straight major tournament. “But it’s a cherry-on-top, or a reminder. It makes me want to go back in time.”
Economic crisis has stalked Argentina for years. But today, annual inflation tops 270%. Almost 60% of the country’s 45 million people live in poverty.