The Argentina-England meeting in the 2026 World Cup semi-final is not just a match to reach the final, but revives one of the richest rivalries in football history, a rivalry that has transcended sports and become linked to a political and military event still fresh in the memory of both nations.

Matches between Argentina and England in the World Cup have a special character dating back to events that went beyond sports.

It is not just a football match, but a blend of a sporting event with political and military dimensions, a rivalry that has gone beyond the game and the green rectangle to establish a memory of conflict between the two peoples.

Between the islands war of 1982 and Maradona's hand in 1986, football is once again igniting the spark ahead of the anticipated clash between Argentina and England in the 2026 World Cup semi-final.

The Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas, remain a contentious issue between the two countries more than four decades after the 1982 crisis, which claimed the lives of 649 Argentine soldiers, along with 255 British soldiers and three Falkland Islanders.

Britain claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and maintains a military presence there, while Argentina continues to assert its rights through diplomatic channels and international bodies such as the United Nations.

Only four years after the war ended, the two teams met in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, in a match that became a landmark in the history of the game.

That match saw Argentine legend Diego Maradona score two goals that remain etched in global football memory; the first known as the 'Hand of God' after he touched the ball with his hand before it entered the goal, while the second came from an exceptional solo run from midfield, later dubbed the 'Goal of the Century'.

Between the generations of Maradona and Messi... Will the repercussions of the Falklands crisis persist when facing England? (Reuters)

Maradona said after the match that the first goal came 'a little with Maradona's head, and a little with the hand...', before explaining in later statements that the victory over England carried symbolic significance for many Argentines in the aftermath of the Malvinas War, adding dimensions to the match that went beyond sporting competition.

Since then, encounters between the two teams have been tied to a special historical context, becoming among the most attention-grabbing matches in World Cup history, not only for their technical value but also for the political and historical legacy present in the fans' memory.

With the renewed fixture between the two sides in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, this legacy returns to the forefront, but this time through a new generation of players, with each side seeking to write a new chapter in one of the most thrilling rivalries in the game's history.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that his team's meeting with England in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday remains within the framework of football competition, despite the ongoing decades-long debate between the two sides in sporting events and political corridors.

He said: 'It's a football match. Full stop. Nothing more than that.'

England... the dream of winning the World Cup is strongly present this time (AFP)

Scaloni added: 'Let's not look for anything else. It's a football match. We will play a football match against a great national team led by a great coach whom I appreciate and respect greatly.'

This issue has resurfaced during the tournament, with Argentine fans and players chanting a slogan referring to the islands and to Maradona. Lionel Messi is seeking to end his international career by winning the World Cup for the second time.

Argentine player José Manuel López acknowledged the historical importance surrounding this match but said the players will approach it professionally.

He told journalists: 'Obviously, this match, outside the boundaries of the field, carries a lot of history, a lot of pain, and a lot of prior events. But we are professionals. We will play it the way we play every match, until the last second, and give our all. It's a World Cup semi-final, and it's a match I believe all my teammates dreamed of playing since we first started kicking the ball. We don't need more motivation than that.'

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