England and Argentina face off once again for a coveted spot in the FIFA World Cup Final on Saturday, July 12th, 2026. This match continues a historic rivalry marked by memorable and contentious moments.

Argentina was the second nation after Scotland to play England in a full international at Wembley Stadium, where England won 2-1 in 1951. The teams have since met in several notable encounters, including friendly draws in 1974 and 1977, and a 3-1 England victory at Wembley in 1980, which featured Diego Maradona's first match against England.

One of the most infamous clashes was their quarterfinal match at Wembley, dubbed "El Robo Del Siglo" (The Robbery of the Century) in Argentina. England won 1-0 after a tense and physical game against a 10-man Argentine side. This match sparked conspiracy theories in South America about tournament rigging.

During that game, Argentina captain Antonio Rattin was cautioned twice—first for fouling England's Bobby Charlton and then for dissent after protesting a teammate's caution. Rattin's dramatic exit, including being led away by police and displaying the United Kingdom flag while crumpling the corner flag and sitting on the red carpet intended for Queen Elizabeth, further inflamed tensions.

The rivalry intensified in the 1986 quarterfinal at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, occurring four years after heightened tensions due to the Falkland Islands conflict, known in Argentina as ‘Las Malvinas.’

In the current tournament, England reached the semifinals by defeating Norway 2-1, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice. Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni has expressed confidence in Lionel Messi's continued excellence, stating Messi "will be the best as long as he wants to be."

FIFA has also announced plans to sell pieces of the World Cup final stadium pitch, potentially earning millions.

This semifinal match adds a new chapter to one of football's greatest rivalries, with a place in the World Cup Final at stake.

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