​The 2026 FIFA World Cup broke new ground even before the first whistle, starting with the June 11 match between Mexico and South Africa. For the first time in history, the tournament expanded to 48 teams, up from the former 32, signaling a broader showcase of national teams from around the globe. Yet the hosts—Mexico, Canada, and the United States—had even more dramatic chapters still to unfold.
For only the third time, the World Cup would feature only world champions among the semifinalists. In 1970, Brazil, reigning champions from 1958 and 1962, faced Uruguay, the 1930 and 1950 holders, and eliminated them. On the opposite side of the bracket, Italy, champions in 1934 and 1938, defeated West Germany, the 1954 winner. That tournament culminated with Brazil securing its historic third title. Twenty years later, in 1990, Argentina, champions in 1978 and 1986, knocked out host Italy, whose titles came in 1934, 1938, and 1982, while West Germany—1954 and 1974 champions—sent England home, with the Germans ultimately triumphing in the final over Maradona and his teammates.
And now, 36 years later, the World Cup would place four world champions on the field at once. The schedule set up two blockbuster quarterfinals: on Tuesday the 14th at 4 p.m. Brasília time, France, champions in 1998 and 2018, faced Spain, the 2010 victors; and on Wednesday the 15th at 4 p.m. Brasília time, England, champions in 1966, met Argentina, whose titles came in 1978, 1986, and 2022. While the French and Spaniards share a relatively cordial sporting rivalry, the English and Argentines have a long and storied enmity.
This was not just a clash of nations but a clash of histories and memories. Unlike the France-Spain dynamic, which had only one prior World Cup meeting (the 2006 Round of 16, won by France 3-1), the Argentina-England rivalry would mark its sixth World Cup encounter. The 1962 group-stage game ended 3-1 for England, the 1966 quarterfinal saw England win 1-0, the 1986 quarterfinal delivered a 2-1 Argentine victory, the 1998 Round of 16 was a dramatic 2-2 draw that Argentina advanced from on penalties, and the 2002 group stage produced a 1-0 England win. Each matchup carried the weight of decades of history.
Of all these clashes, the 1986 World Cup remains the most vivid for both nations, fueled by a bitter political backdrop. In 1982, just a few years earlier, Argentina and England had been embroiled in a military conflict over the Falkland Islands, a war that lasted 74 days and ended with a European victory. In this context, the quarterfinals in Mexico carried far more than the prize of a semifinal berth; many viewed it as a proxy confrontation that carried the weight of national pride and historical grievances.
As Argentine great Roberto Perfumo later told The Guardian, the 1986 win over England had felt like more than mere progression in the tournament. “In 1986, winning that match against England was enough. Winning the World Cup was secondary for us; beating England was our real objective.” Jorge Valdano, another Argentine legend, added further depth: “When we stepped onto the field, we knew the difficulties. Even so, I asked my teammates to play their best football in that match. That day, we were not taking revenge, but representing the entire Argentine people.” The clash carried the weight of national identity, a moment when sport and history intersected in a way few other matches do.