Lionel Scaloni, the man who coached Argentina to a World Cup title, has a simple message ahead of his team’s blockbuster 2026 FIFA World Cup match against England: keep it about football. Forget the Falklands, forget Maradona’s Hand of God, forget decades of geopolitical tension. Just play.
The crypto market, predictably, did not get the memo. Argentina’s official fan token, $ARG, has become a real-time barometer for the team’s fortunes on the pitch, surging 12.4% after standout Messi-assisted performances in the tournament.
What happened on the pitch
Argentina rolled past Switzerland in their most recent World Cup fixture, with Alexis Mac Allister delivering a key goal. Scaloni credited his players for the win while keeping his tactical cards close to his chest ahead of the England match.
The Argentina-England rivalry carries weight that goes far beyond sport. The Falklands War, Maradona’s infamous 1986 quarter-final goals, Beckham’s red card in 1998. Scaloni, though, is treating it like any other game, steering every question back to formations and fitness.
