Viral video shows a soccer celebration in Buenos Aires, not protests in Cuba


Headline False logo
This claim rates False.

People in Cuba have taken to the streets, chanting for “freedom” and protesting food and medicine shortages, price hikes and the country’s worsening economic crisis in one of the largest demonstrations that the region has seen in years.

But some online are spreading unrelated images of large crowds and claiming that they depict the ongoing unrest.

Like this video, which was posted on Twitter on July 11 with the caption: “Cuba right now. Cubans want freedom.”

The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)

This video doesn’t show people protesting and it was not taken in Cuba.

As many pointed out in the comments, the video shows Buenos Aires, where Argentina soccer fans celebrated the team’s July 10 championship win over Brazil for the Copa América cup.

The clip features the famous Obelisco de Buenos Aires landmark lit up in blue to represent the team’s colors. An image by the Associated Press also shows the celebration near the monument, as do several other videos taken that night. 

We rate this post False. 

By
July 13, 2021

Truth-o-meter Ruling

False

IF YOUR TIME IS SHORT

  • This video depicts a crowd in Buenos Aires celebrating the Argentina national football team’s championship win over Brazil for the Copa América cup.

Statement

Says this crowd video shows the ongoing protests in Cuba.

Context

a tweet

Speaker/Target

Speaker: X posts

Statement Date

July 11, 2021
Our Sources

Twitter post, July 11, 2021

CNN, Cubans take to streets in rare protests over lack of freedoms and worsening economy, July 13, 2021 

Daily Motion, https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x82m3fz 

NPR, Lionel Messi Sends Argentina To Victory Over Brazil In Copa América Final, July 11, 2021 

Google Maps, 9 de Julio Avenue image, April 2020

AP Images, ARGENTINA BRAZIL COPA AMERICA SOCCER, July 10, 2021 

Translations

Language: en

More by This Author

Latest Fact Checks