England, Argentina World Cup game ignites old tensions over Falkland Islands

Sports & Gaming England, Argentina World Cup game ignites old tensions over Falkland Islands Comments: by Tara Suter - 07/14/26 3:38 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Tara Suter - 07/14/26 3:38 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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The upcoming World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina on Wednesday is stirring up some old tensions over the Falkland Islands, a British territory that is a small archipelago in the south Atlantic Ocean near the Argentinian coast which both countries maintain claims to.

The islands, which areofficially a British Overseas Territory, are also claimed by Argentina as the Islas Malvinas. The Falkland Islands’ government website states that the archipelago was uninhabited before 1765 and that the British were the first to lay claim to the islands.

In 1982, Argentina invaded the Falklands, with the U.K. sending forces to retake the archipelago in a war lasting around two months. Over 600 Argentines and over 250 British died in the war, which ultimately resulted in the U.K. retaking possession of the islands.

In a video posted on the social platform X last week, the Argentinian men’s national soccer team can be seen singing in a locker room about the territorial dispute, with translated lyrics overlaid on the footage.

“I’ve been Argentine from the cradle to the grave, for the Malvinas, Diego, for Leo’s last one,” the players sing, according to the translation, referencing two Argentinian soccer superstars, Diego Maradona and the currently-playing Lionel Messi.

Maradona’s famous “Hand of God” goal came in quarterfinal match against England during the 1986 FIFA World Cup, which was only four years after the Falklands War amid still heightened geopolitical tensions. After the game, Maradona declared that the goal was “symbolic revenge” for Argentina’s defeat in the war.

British and Argentinian officials have entered into an escalating war of words over the islands in recent months, which has only escalated as Wednesday’s big match approaches.

Argentinian President Javier Milei said in a radio interview shared in April on X that his country was doing “everything humanly possible so that the Argentine Malvinas, the islands, the entire territory return to the hands of Argentina.” His comments came as it was revealed that the Trump administration was reviewing its position on “imperial possessions,” including the U.K.’s possession of the Falklands.

Yvette Cooper, the U.K.’s Foreign Secretary, had strong words on Monday in response to resurgent territorial claims from Argentinian players and fans, saying everyone should “focus on the football.” She also said, “let’s not get distracted by things which have never changed and are not going to change.”

“The U.K position remains the same. The Falklands are British and they have the right to self-determination,” she declared.

Also on Monday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office in a statement Monday directly responded to Argentinian Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno’s assertions about residents of the islands being “artificially implanted,” saying “the Falkland Islanders are British with the right to determine their own future.”

Wednesday’s game between Argentina and England is set to take place at 3:00 P.M. in Atlanta. The winner of that game will take on the winner of the France-Spain game, which set for 3:00 P.M. in Dallas Tuesday,in the World Cup final.

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