England and Argentina meet Wednesday evening in Atlanta for a 2026 World Cup semifinal, renewing one of international football's most storied and politically charged rivalries. The two nations have faced each other five times at the World Cup since their first meeting in 1962.
The fixture has been shaped by flashpoints both on and off the pitch. Diego Maradona scored the infamous 'Hand of God' goal and the 'goal of the century' in the 1986 quarterfinal. David Beckham was sent off against Diego Simeone in 1998, before scoring the winning penalty in England's 1-0 victory in 2002. The rivalry's roots extend to the 1982 Falklands War, which claimed over 900 lives and still informs security measures: Argentina's safety minister banned flags or banners referencing the conflict at the venue.
The rivalry even reshaped the sport itself, as the 1966 quarterfinal prompted the introduction of yellow and red cards after Argentina's captain refused to leave the pitch.