​Some football rivalries are born from geography. Others emerge through decades of sporting competition. England against Argentina is different. It is a fixture shaped by history, politics and unforgettable moments on the world’s biggest stage.When the two nations meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, a place in Sunday’s final will be at stake. Yet this is more than just another knockout game for some people. Every meeting between England and Argentina carries the weight of a relationship that stretches back generations, fuelled by political tensions, footballing controversy and some of the most iconic moments the sport has ever produced.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe roots of the rivalry lie far away from any football stadium, in the South Atlantic Ocean.The Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Islas Malvinas, are a British Overseas Territory located around 300 miles east of the Argentine mainland. Both the United Kingdom and Argentina claim sovereignty over the islands, a dispute that culminated in the Falklands War in 1982.In April that year, Argentine forces landed on the islands, prompting Britain to launch a military task force to retake the territory. The conflict lasted just over two months before Argentina surrendered in June. More than 900 people lost their lives, leaving lasting scars on both nations and ensuring the islands remain a sensitive political issue more than four decades later.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAlthough England and Argentina had already met several times on the football pitch before the war, the conflict fundamentally changed the meaning of every encounter that followed. Matches between the two countries were no longer viewed solely through a sporting lens. Instead, they became emotionally charged occasions, attracting enormous attention from supporters and media alike.The rivalry had actually begun years earlier at the 1966 World Cup in England.The hosts defeated Argentina 1-0 in a fiercely contested quarter-final remembered as much for its controversy as the result. Argentina captain  Antonio Rattín was sent off after an altercation with the referee, despite no clear explanation being given at the time. His refusal to leave the pitch, coupled with England manager Sir Alf Ramsey’s infamous description of the Argentine players as “animals”, ensured resentment lingered long after the final whistle.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, it was the 1986 World Cup in Mexico that transformed England against Argentina into one of football’s defining rivalries.Meeting in the quarter-finals just four years after the Falklands War, emotions were still raw. Diego Maradona produced two of the most famous goals in football history within four unforgettable minutes.The first came through the infamous “Hand of God”, with Maradona using his hand to beat England goalkeeper Peter Shilton before the officials allowed the goal to stand. Minutes later he scored what many still