By Reuters

First published on 15 Jul 202615 Jul 2026.

The World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina is considered a high-risk event due to the deep-seated rivalry between the two nations.

Police in ‌‌Atlanta are preparing for the World Cup semifinal between ⁠⁠Argentina and England, a match seen as potentially high risk for trouble given the history of animosity between the ⁠⁠two countries.

On Wednesday, the Atlanta Police Department stated that enhanced security measures would be implemented, resulting from ongoing security evaluations.

The stadium in downtown Atlanta normally hosts NFL and Major League Soccer.

While isolated incidents of minor disorder were reported ahead of the match, the atmosphere remained peaceful on Wednesday morning. Fans gathered in cafes and bars, some playing cards as they waited outside the stadium.

In Mexico, earlier in the tournament, there was a deadly crush as fans celebrated, but this World Cup has generally been free of the violent disorder that blighted some matches in the 1980s and 1990s.

Still, authorities are taking ⁠⁠no chances. For the first time at this ⁠⁠tournament, rival fans will be channelled through separate entrances at the stadium.

The rivalry between Argentina and England goes back decades and stems both from controversies at football matches, as well as geopolitical tensions. It intensified in the wake of the 1982 military conflict between the two ⁠⁠countries over the Falkland Islands/Malvinas and South ⁠⁠Georgia in the South Atlantic.

Argentina’s security minister said Argentina fans would not be able to take any flags or banners into the stadium that assert Argentinian sovereignty ‌‌over the islands.

FIFA rules ban items in stadiums making political expressions, although earlier in the tournament in Los Angeles, Iranian Americans carrying ‌‌flags ‌‌protesting against the Tehran government entered the stadium and the game proceeded without issue.

The animosity traces back to both football controversies and the 1982 Falklands War, intensifying the security challenge. To prevent incidents, authorities are channeling rival fans through separate stadium entrances for the first time in the tournament. Argentina's security minister has also banned flags asserting sovereignty over the islands, complying with FIFA rules against political expressions.