Argentina To Wear Jersey England Fans Dread The Most In World Cup Semifinal

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is drawing to a close ― and HuffPost continues to live-blog every twist and turn as the final looms at New York/New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.Even before a ball was kicked, the 23rd edition of the tournament was engulfed in controversy: from Iran’s tough journey to the competition amid Donald Trump’s war, to the president’s close relationship with FIFA’s Peace Prize-awarding President Gianni Infantino. That’s not to mention Trump’s travel bans keeping some fans and officials out and the fury over soaring ticket prices. Once the soccer actually began, much of the concern was eased — at least for a short while. But the introduction of hydration breaks, seen as a vehicle for TV advertising, prompted booing from fans and questions about the fundamentals of the game being undermined. And Trump’s intervention in an effort to get a red card reversed for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, which was fruitless, as the Americans were soundly defeated by Belgium, will likely leave a stain on this World Cup.Check out the full games schedule on the FIFA website.Follow along with our coverage below:Argentina To Wear Jersey England Fans Dread The Most In World Cup SemifinalArgentina’s dark blue jersey has become more than just an alternate strip. For many, it is part of the team’s football folklore, a shirt stitched with some of the nation’s most famous World Cup memories - and, perhaps, a little bit of good luck.When the defending champions face England in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, Lionel Messi and company will swap their traditional sky blue and white stripes for their dark blue away kit.Argentina wore dark blue against England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, when Diego Maradona scored his infamous “Hand of God” goal and dazzling solo effort later dubbed the “Goal of the Century” in a 2-1 victory.Twelve years later, Argentina again wore dark blue when they eliminated England on penalties in the round of 16 at the 1998 World Cup in France after a dramatic 2-2 draw.England manager Thomas Tuchel understands the thinking.“I would have done the same if there was any superstition combined with it,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “So credit to them. I was not aware of that.”The German acknowledged that even at the highest level of professional sport, superstition remains a powerful force. “I have my superstitious routines. I will not tell you because another superstition is that if I tell you, it will not work,” he said, prompting laughter.“We have routines that keep you grounded and calm through the day, and that will not change. We have, of course, also our lucky charms, and these things are just normal in high-level sport.”If the shirt choice was driven by history and superstition, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni appeared reluctant to embrace the narrative. “Well, I didn’t ask for the blue one. I don’t know who did, but perhaps it’s tradition,” Scaloni said. “I really don’t know. I can’t speak to that. And if Thomas had no issue, well, then you can say the same for myself.”Argentina’s dark blue shirt draws from the country’s culture in featuring swirling blue fileteado-inspired motifs across a black base.Fileteado is a UNESCO-recognised style of decorative art and lettering from Buenos Aires, characterised by vibrant colours, flowing floral motifs, 3D shading and highly stylized Gothic typography.Whether it is a lucky charm or just another shirt, Argentina will be hoping history repeats itself with a win over England.Latest Live UpdatesWorld Cup Weather Watch: England vs. ArgentinaHere’s what fans can expect in Atlanta for the second 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal game between England and Argentina on Wednesday, including temperatures, the Fan Comfort Index (FCI) level and any weather concerns.See more World Cup weather news on The Weather Channel.1/22/2The World Cup’s Most Unexpected And Bonkers Star Lands In BostonFresh off its first-class flight from Glasgow, it received a reception befitting a visiting dignitary: a bagpiper in full regalia playing inside Boston Logan International Airport. Waiting to greet it were diplomats, the governor and Boston’s mayor.The guest of honor? An orange traffic cone.Tuesday’s arrival of the “Boston Cone” marked the latest chapter in the city’s unlikely love affair with Scotland’s Tartan Army, whose habit of placing traffic cones atop statues during the team’s World Cup run last month turned the humble orange cone into one of the tournament’s defining symbols.“I have to admit, this is probably — yes, it is — my first official welcoming ceremony for a traffic cone,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said in the airport’s Terminal E, before signing her name to the cone. “But it’s a pretty special one, isn’t it? Because this cone tells the story of what happened this summer. What happened in Boston, what happened in Massachusetts.”“And special thanks to the Scots for drinking all the beer,” she added to laughter. “I do promise you, when you return … we will never again run out of beer in Massachusetts.”During Scottish fans’ World Cup visit, Boston bars struggled to keep up with the Tartan Army’s thirst, with some running out of beer and scrambling for emergency deliveries. The fans transformed parts of Boston into an unofficial outpost of Scotland, filling downtown with bagpipes, songs and chants while bright orange traffic cones sprouted atop some of the city’s most recognizable landmarks — from Samuel Adams outside Faneuil Hall to Red Auerbach outside TD Garden, former Mayor Kevin White near Quincy Market and even the beloved Make Way for Ducklings statues in the Public Garden.“There are still some traffic cones atop our most important statues,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joked Tuesday, recalling how Boston had “unofficially become New Scotland.”The official commemorative cone, decorated with illustrations celebrating Boston and Scotland and the slogan “No Boston, No Party,” will spend the next week visiting landmarks across Massachusetts to raise money for mental health charities before returning home to Scotland.The tradition dates to Glasgow, where placing bright orange traffic cones atop public statues began as a late-night prank in the 1980s before evolving into an unofficial symbol of the country’s irreverent humor. The best-known example is the Duke of Wellington statue in the city center, where the cone has become so iconic that repeated efforts to remove it have been met with public opposition.“It’s an in-joke that’s gone too far, actually,” one of the cone’s Scottish escorts, Danny Campbell, said, laughing as he stood beside the cone in a kilt. “But no, it isn’t a joke. This is a metaphor for life.”Campbell said people can become consumed by “going to our jobs and cooking sausages and all the sort of serious stuff that adults have to do” and lose sight of what matters.“That’s what our countrymen represented when they came here,” he said, speaking of Scottish fans’ stay in Boston. “They left stomachs and cheeks sore from laughing, they cleaned up after themselves, they spread joy and these people came together with humor and they built relationships with each other.”“This is not just a silly cone,” Campbell said. “It means love. It means love, and that is the whole point.”Yet Another World Cup Coach Heads For The ExitHaiti has reached an agreement to part ways with coach Sebastien Migne, ending the Frenchman’s tenure after he led the country to its first World Cup appearance since 1974, the football federation announced on Tuesday.The decision was made by mutual consent, the federation said in a statement.Haiti thanked Migne for his “professionalism, commitment, and dedication”.Migne, 53, had been in charge of Haiti since 2024.Haiti exited the tournament in the group stage after losing 1-0 to Scotland, 3-0 to Brazil and 4-2 to Morocco.England Fans Cry Foul Over Referee Named For Argentina World Cup SemifinalMajor League Soccer referee Ismail Elfath has never overseen a Lionel Messi loss or draw -- only wins.That’s why his appointment to Argentina’s World Cup semifinal against England on Wednesday angered English fans and led to accusations of fixing the tournament for another Messi title.Elfath, an American citizen born in Morocco, was tapped for the England-Argentina showdown with fellow Americans Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins as his two assistants.Several online outlets noted that Messi’s teams are 5-0 in matches that Elfath has worked in some capacity. He served as the fourth official for the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, where Messi and Argentina beat France in a penalty shootout after an instant classic 3-3 draw.Then Messi joined Inter Miami the following summer. Elfath, a two-time MLS Referee of the Year honoree, worked the final of the inaugural Leagues Cup in 2023, in which Miami defeated Nashville SC -- also on penalties -- landing a quick first trophy for Messi in his new home.During this World Cup, Elfath has worked two group-stage matches -- Japan vs. the Netherlands and Spain vs. Uruguay -- as well as Norway’s upset of Brazil in the round of 16.The winner between Argentina and England will move on to face Spain in the final on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.Trump Ties Land FIFA Boss Gianni Infantino In Fresh Ethics ComplaintThe International Olympic Committee has received a complaint alleging FIFA president Gianni Infantino has repeatedly breached rules on political neutrality in his support of President Donald Trump.FairSquare, a nonprofit organization and advocacy group, asked the IOC to investigate, among several instances, Infantino’s possible involvement in the suspension of a one-game ban for striker Folarin Balogun, enabling him to play for the United States in a round of 16 match on July 6 against Belgium.Infantino acknowledged receiving a call from Trump, who publicly lobbied for Balogun to play, but the FIFA president said he did not interfere with the decision-making process.Balogun played as the USMNT was eliminated 4-1 by Belgium. He had received a direct red card in the 64th minute of a July 1 match for a foul on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic. The U.S. went on to win 2-0 with 10 men in the round of 32, and Balogun was suspended for the next game.A red card or suspension cannot be appealed. FIFA, however, posted this message without further explanation to its website on July 5 about its use of the rule book in the case: “By operation of Article 27 FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.”“All I did was ask for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump said on the day of the game against Belgium. “And, you know, again, I’m good at this stuff. I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled.“I think they made a really brilliant decision. I think the referee’s call was horrible and nobody talks about that. They talk about the red card like it’s fine, nobody talks the referee’s decision to red card.”Infantino said FIFA’s judicial committees act autonomously in a statement on his behalf on FIFA’s website. “Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected,” the statement read.FairSquare, in its complaint, is questioning the credibility and integrity of Infantino, who also became an IOC member in 2020. The organization said he “is obliged to adhere to strict rules on political neutrality in the Olympic Charter and the IOC Code of Ethics, adding that the IOC can expel members who don’t fulfill these obligations.“As outlined in the FairSquare complaint, there is compelling evidence that Infantino has committed five clear breaches of IOC rules on political neutrality through statements or other clear expressions of support for the US President,” FairSquare posted on its website.One “serious breach” in the complaint was the Balogun situation with Infantino possibly giving in to pressure from Trump. Another was Infantino promoting a FIFA fan site for the 2026 World Cup, “which appears to have been part of a data-harvesting campaign run by entities linked to President Trump,” FairSquare wrote.Another alleged breach was Infantino’s supportive post on his Instagram account after attending an event linked to Trump’s presidential inauguration in January 2025.Infantino also publicly endorsed Trump for the Nobel Prize in October 2025, and he made more supportive comments in November. In December, Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize at the World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center.FairSquare also made a complaint to FIFA’s ethics committee in December, which was supported by the Norwegian football federation as well as 50 members of the European Parliament in a separate writing on June 29.The IOC and FIFA did not respond to requests for comment from multiple media outlets.Atlanta Ramps Up Security For High-Stakes England-Argentina World Cup SemifinalThe Atlanta Police Department (APD) will have enhanced security in place for Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final in the city between England and Argentina, two nations with a fierce soccer rivalry.The World Cup has been free of the violent disorder that blighted some tournaments in the 1980s and 1990s but authorities are taking no chances for the last of the seven matches at Atlanta Stadium.“The Atlanta Police Department has enhanced its citywide public safety and security posture,” the APD said in a statement.“Additional personnel and resources are already deployed and will continue to be strategically assigned ... to help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.”The APD said the proactive measures were the result of continual assessment of what was required to secure the matches in Atlanta.“Adjustments are a routine part of managing an event of this magnitude and are intended to ensure a safe and enjoyable FIFA World Cup experience,” the statement added.Argentina’s security minister, Alejandra Monteoliva, said on Tuesday that enhanced security had been discussed at a meeting in the United States on Monday.Monteoliva indicated that, for the first time at the tournament, rival fans would be channelled into Atlanta Stadium through separate entrances on Wednesday.“There will be 1,600 officers ... We want the celebration to be peaceful,” she told local radio in Argentina.FIFA’s ticket sales policies for the tournament mean that segregating fans inside the stadium, as happens routinely in domestic football matches in England and Argentina, would be nigh on impossible on Wednesday.The APD said it works closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and its “public safety partners” on planning for such events but never “discuss specific operational risk assessments or the details of planning”.The soccer rivalry between Argentina and England was forged through five previous meetings at World Cups, several of which have featured controversial incidents.It intensified in the wake of the 1982 military conflict between the two countries over the Falkland Islands and South Georgia in the South Atlantic, which resulted in 907 deaths.Monteoliva said that Argentina fans would not be able to take any flags or banners into Atlanta Stadium which claimed sovereignty over the islands, which the Argentines call Islas Malvinas.“The entry of elements that have any type of provocative message, whether of political or racial content, is prohibited. They will not be able to enter flags or posters with that content,” Monteoliva said.The reputation of England fans has improved greatly since the days when hooligan elements ran riot at the 1982 and 1998 World Cups.“The way England fans have conducted themselves across North America has done our country proud,” the Football Supporters’ Association, which provides support and services to England fans, said in a statement ahead of the semi-final.“We’ve continued to show that the outdated stereotypes don’t define us... let’s make sure we continue to look after one another, represent England with pride, and give everyone another reminder of why we have the best fans in the world.”France Star Kylian Mbappe Offers 'Sloppy' Assessment Of World Cup Defeat To SpainKylian Mbappe offered a blunt assessment of France’s World Cup semifinal exit Tuesday, saying his team was too “sloppy” to keep Spain from controlling a 2-0 victory in Arlington, Texas.The France captain pointed to breakdowns in both the game plan and its execution after Les Bleus were denied a third consecutive appearance in the World Cup final. Spain consistently created an extra man in midfield, leaving Rodri and Fabian Ruiz with the time and space to dictate possession.“We were three against two in midfield and against Spain, that’s hard,” Mbappe said. “Fabian and Rodri had plenty of time to play. There was a lack of communication on the press. I think we should have done man-to-man press and force them to run with us.”France entered the semifinal having won its first six matches and scored 16 goals, but struggled to establish its attack against Spain. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty in the 22nd minute after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal, and Pedro Porro doubled the advantage shortly before the hour mark.Mbappe said France’s plan had been to apply pressure high up the field and prevent Spain from settling into its preferred possession game. Instead, Spain regularly played through the press and quickly recovered the ball whenever France briefly regained it.“We didn’t play the game we wanted, technically, tactically,” Mbappe said. “When you don’t do what you have to do in a World Cup semifinal, you don’t win.”The Real Madrid forward also criticized France’s work with the ball, saying poor first touches and missed opportunities prevented his team from testing Spain when openings appeared.“We were too sloppy technically,” Mbappe said. “We could not hurt them when we could have.”Didier Deschamps tried to shift the match by removing Adrien Rabiot at halftime and later introducing Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki. The changes did little to disrupt Spain’s control, and Mbappe was held scoreless after entering the match with eight tournament goals.He remains tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot lead. Mbappe also scored eight goals at the 2022 World Cup, when France lost the final to Argentina in a penalty shootout.“As the captain, I have to take all the responsibility and I have no problem with that,” Mbappe said. “We wanted to go to the final. We didn’t go.”France will face the loser of Wednesday’s Argentina-England semifinal in Saturday’s third-place match in Miami Gardens, Fla.U.S. World Cup Star Admits Trump's Meddling Made Things 'Difficult'USMNT striker Folarin Balogun told CBS News on Tuesday that Trump’s efforts to get the red card repealed before the knockout game against Belgium made things “difficult” for the U.S. Men’s National Team.“My initial reaction was, you know, I was happy to be back in the team, but when I kind of started to reflect, I knew it was gonna cause a lot of controversy,” Balogun said. “And I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves because it was something that’s so unique.”Read more:Spain Shuts Down France And Kylian Mbappé, Advances To The World Cup Final With A 2-0 VictoryMikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot after a heady play by teenager Lamine Yamal, Pedro Porro added another goal and Spain advanced to its first World Cup final since winning in 2010 with a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday.A day after his 19th birthday, Yamal was denied a goal on a close offside call that came soon after Porro’s give-and-go with Dani Olmo in the 58th minute had put Spain up 2-0. But it was Yamal’s smart play against a veteran defender that put Spain in the lead.Spain, which will play in the final for only the second time, will face either defending champion Argentina or England on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.“We gave it our all in order just to go through to the final,” Porro said. “We knew that we’re a very tough team, we’re doing things really well. This is our team, it’s not about me.”Read more from The Associated Press:Messi In A Happy Place As Argentina Gears Up For World Cup Semifinal Against EnglandATLANTA, July 14 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi is contentedly enjoying his sixth World Cup, and his teammates are reveling in their captain’s delight, Argentina’s Rodrigo de Paul said on Tuesday as the holders prepared for Wednesday’s semi-final clash against England.Messi has had a record-breaking tournament, not only setting a new mark for the most games played but also shattering the goalscoring record with his eight goals at the finals in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., bringing his total to 21, and ominously for England, is having a whale of a time.“Seeing him enjoying himself makes me really happy, considering everything he’s been through with this jersey and everything he’s had to fight for,” said De Paul of his teammate, who also plays alongside him in Major League Soccer at Inter Miami.“I think this World Cup has found him truly enjoying himself.“Of course, we all know his mentality, how he prepares, and how he approaches every game. But I see him happy and enjoying it, and as a friend, that makes me very happy.”De Paul, 32, played in the World Cup final in Qatar four years ago, where Argentina edged France on post-match penalties, and is conscious of what it will take to get to Sunday’s deciding game in New York.“We have plenty of concerns, of course, because we’re facing a great team. They have many top-class players, and I think they have a great coach as well,” De Paul said of England.“Those concerns simply keep us focused. We spend our time making sure they’re under control.”But the overwhelming emotion of being so tantalizingly close to the final is excitement.“Being just one step away from playing in another World Cup final... there’s no greater motivation than that,” De Paul told reporters as Argentina held their last training session.“Everyone loves playing in a World Cup. Every match is a final; that’s always how we’ve approached it. We’re facing a team we’ve never played before, a powerhouse that has done very well in this World Cup, just like the other four teams still here. It’s going to be a great match.“I’m very happy and full of adrenaline. Personally, I really enjoy these kinds of matches. I’m trying to fully experience the moment without letting emotions overwhelm us. So we’re putting a lot of thought into preparing for tomorrow’s game, especially staying calm and level-headed.”No team since Brazil in 1962 has ever successfully defended the trophy, and De Paul is under no illusions that Argentina will have to pull out all the stops if they are to keep their title.“We have done it in the Copa America, but I believe it’s always much harder to win again after you’ve already won. To stay at the top for so many years isn’t easy, and we’ve managed to do that. I’m very proud of my teammates,” De Paul added.“Yes, in the end, a World Cup and tournaments of this magnitude are decided by small details.”(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Atlanta; Editing by Christian Radnedge)See All Updates