With the four biggest favorites reaching the World Cup 2026 semifinals, you’re bound to get some classic matchups. But while France and Spain share little more than a rivalry, there are few more historically charged duels than Argentina vs England.
There’s the crucial military history between the two, most notably the 1982 Malvinas War, but also the 19th-century English invasions of Buenos Aires and the 1845 blockade of the city’s port.
However, Argentina and England also share a tense sporting rivalry that dates back to before the Malvinas conflict and has extended far beyond it.
The 1966 ‘animals’
Before a single shot was fired in the southern Atlantic, Argentina and England were already facing off in tense duels.
