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They may be facing off on the pitch for the first time in over 20 years, but tempers rarely cool when this fixture comes up. With defending champions Argentina squaring off against a rejuvenated England side in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, USA, this Wednesday (July 15), tensions are climbing once again.

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Given that the on-field rivalry between the two nations has long bled into other spheres, particularly politics, Argentina’s second-in-command added fresh fuel to the fire, branding England “invaders” and “usurping pirates.”

Falklands clash, Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’

While on-field competition between the two sides at the World Cup has turned fierce in the past, Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal against the Three Lions in the quarter-final of the 1986 edition fuelled an outrage which was created by the war between the two countries over the Falkland Islands in 1982. Argentina lost the Falkland Islands to the UK in the 74-day conflict.

On the eve of the high-voltage clash, Victoria Villarruel said in a post on X, “Tomorrow we play against the usurping pirates. This isn’t just another match. I’m not going to be politically correct or cold-hearted; against the English, it’s always something more. It’s the Malvinas, it’s Diego, it’s Leo’s last one, and it’s putting the brakes on the invaders. Go Argentina! Because until our last breath, we’re going to claim what’s ours!”

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Argentina players have been singing “For the Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo’s last one” in this tournament, including after their controversial Round of 16 win over Egypt. “Malvinas” is Spanish for Falklands.

Las Malvinas is Argentina’s name for the Falklands, which held a referendum in 2013 in which islanders voted in large numbers to remain a UK overseas territory. The British overseas territory remains a subject of a sovereignty dispute between London and Buenos Aires.

Argentina coach refuses to mix sports and politics

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, however, stayed away from political discussions during the pre-match press conference on Tuesday (July 14).

“It’s a football match; I can’t mix things up, out of respect for what happened so many years ago,” he said.

The winners of the game will meet Spain in the final in New Jersey on July 19, while the losers will play France for third place on July 18. Spain beat France 2-0 in the first semi-final on Tuesday.

England eye WC finals after six decades

England have made it to the finals of the FIFA World Cup only once, and it was six decades ago in their own country, and they won the trophy, beating the then West Germany. In five World Cup meetings, England lead 3-2, with their last encounter taking place in the 2002 edition.

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Officials, meanwhile, were leaving no stone unturned to ensure security at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta by deploying additional personnel.