2026 World Cup: England vs. Argentina—a heated matchup long before they take the field: sparks flying on multiple fronts
There are more than seventy-two hours to go until kickoff (scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Italian time on Wednesday, July 15, in Atlanta), but there’s already a major controversy brewing ahead of England vs. Argentina, a 2026 World Cup semifinal that’s highly anticipated not only for sporting reasons but also because of the rivalry—both on and off the field—between the two countries.
After the match against Switzerland, chants heard in the Albiceleste locker room, with explicit references to the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, the scene of a war in 1982 between the South American country—led at the time by a military junta—and the United Kingdom. The British media described the chants as a direct provocation, and the *Daily Mirror* spoke of “open contempt ahead of the match,” noting that the issue remains an open wound for many Britons, who lost 255 of their fellow soldiers in the conflict.
Turning to matters on the field, the picture is further complicated by refereeing controversies: Egypt is still unhappy with how the match against Argentina was handled, while Embolo’s ejection against Switzerland continues to divide experts, particularly regarding the use of VAR. On the English side, however, the main talking point is the incident where the ball allegedly touched the Skycam during the match against Norway, facilitating the play that led to the temporary 1-1 tie—an episode that is still being discussed heatedly in the aftermath of the match.
There were also tense moments on the field: Lionel Messi, in the match against Switzerland, was involved in a heated exchange with referee Joao Pinheiro, demanding “respect” and criticizing the referee’s tone as inappropriate during a stoppage in play. An unusually nervous Messi, reflecting the general atmosphere.
And sparks flew on the English side as well. Against Norway, cameras “caught” head coach Thomas Tuchel in a heated discussion with Jude Bellingham, referring to a “sloppy performance”: The Real Madrid star—who proved decisive against the Norwegians with a two-goal performance—responded sharply, highlighting the challenges posed by facing Haaland and his teammates.
Wednesday’s match will be the sixth World Cup encounter between England and Argentina: the English won in 1962 (3-1 in the group stage), in 1966 (1-0 in the quarterfinals in the famous match where Rattin was sent off) and in 2002 (1-0 in the group stage, a result that sealed the Albiceleste’s elimination), while the Argentines prevailed in 1986 (2-1 in the quarterfinals in the historic match featuring the “Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century,” both scored by Maradona) and in 1998 (6-5 on penalty kicks in a round of 16 match marked by a red card for Beckham).
