Argentina and England will renew their rivalry when they go head-to-head on Wednesday to contest their 2026 World Cup semi-final.
Argentina have, arguably, ridden their luck on their run to the final four. They needed extra-time to beat Cape Verde in the last 32, scored three late goals against Egypt in the last 16, and again needed extra-time to defeat Switzerland in the quarter-final.
England have also been unconvincing at this summer’s tournament. They scraped through against DR Congo in the last 32, narrowly defeated Mexico in a thriller in the last 16, and then needed extra-time to beat Norway in the quarter-final.
The match between the two sides at Atlanta Stadium promises to be a heated encounter, given their history both on and off the pitch.
Argentina and England have played out some dramatic World Cup matches. In 1986, Argentina beat England after Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal. While in 1998, David Beckham was sent off against La Selección for kicking out at Diego Simeone.
There are also tensions between the two nations off the pitch due to the Falklands War in 1982. The war is mentioned in the popular song ‘La Cuarta Estrella’, which Argentina’s players and fans have sung continuously throughout the tournament.
In his pre-match press conference, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was asked about their rivalry with England. He was asked: “It’s going to be a special match, not only football-wise, but also emotionally. How do you imagine you and your players will experience this match? And what message can you give to the Argentines that are anxiously waiting?’
Scaloni responded:
“It’s a football match, ok? The message is this is a football game. That is what I can say. Let’s not look for anything else. it’s a football match. We are going to play a football match against a great national team, which has a great manager [Thomas Tuchel], whom I appreciate and admire a lot. And it’s a football match. There is nothing more to it than that.”
Scaloni’s answer has been posted on Reddit and England fans are praising him for his comments.
One England fan said: “That’s such a breath of fresh air. I think a lot of people, even around here, need to get that message through their heads”, while another stated: “How refreshing. Good for him.”
A third wrote: “Massive respect for him saying this. Well done,” while a fourth commented: “That’s how people need to start answering journalists going forward! This is brilliant!”
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Scaloni also revealed just how proud he is of his side for their efforts this tournament. He said, per the Guardian:
“What this team has achieved is historic, even though we could have played better. It’s historic to be in a semi-final again. It’s a privileged space in football, not an easy feat. We’re happy and excited now, and we will try to make it to the end with every last drop of sweat.”
Meanwhile, Argentina forward Jose Lopez vowed that Argentina will ‘leave their lives on the field’ in their match against England. He said:
“Obviously inside and outside the four lines of the pitch, it’s a match that has a lot of history there, a lot of pain and a lot of things behind it. I think we are professionals and we’re going to play it like we play every game: until the last second, leaving our lives on the field.”
The victor will play either France or Spain in the World Cup final on Wednesday, July 15.
Ever since its inception in 1930, the World Cup has always been the most prestigious and sought-after title in international football. What began as a small gathering of football’s leading nations has evolved into the world’s biggest sporting event, uniting fans across the globe as they celebrate ‘the beautiful game’.
From 13 teams at the inaugural tournament in Uruguay, to the record-breaking 48 nations who participated at the 2026 World Cup, the competition has undergone significant transitions as it tries to keep up with the ever-growing popularity of the sport. But, in the 2026 tournament, during which 104 matches will be played, concerns over the commercialization of football took centre stage, with some speculating that the expanded format is simply a vehicle to drive further revenue, with greater opportunities for advertising and sponsorship.
But how did the competition grow to the size it is today, and could we see even more teams fighting on the world’s biggest stage at the 2030 tournament?
The 2026 World Cup saw the most teams ever competing at the same tournament, with 48 nations traveling to North America in their quest to claim the coveted World Cup trophy. But what about the 2030 edition?
It is almost certain that the next tournament will feature at least 48 teams, with the increased reach and global interest driving FIFA’s viewership figures at the 2026 tournament. But some have speculated that the centenary year could bring the biggest World Cup we have ever seen, with a proposed 64-team format.
According to the New York Times, the 64-team idea was first raised by the Uruguayan Football Association’s president, Ignacio Alonso, during a FIFA Council meeting in March 2025.
CONMEBOL president, Alejandro Dominguez, also backed the suggestion, stating that the expanded format would ensure “nobody on the planet is left out of the party”.
But what would a 64-team tournament look like?
If FIFA were to approve the move, it would see a staggering 128 matches played across the tournament, doubling the number of fixtures held at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Such a tournament would almost certainly see 16 four-nation groups battling it out over the opening stages, before progressing to the knockout stages. A 64-team World Cup would, however, make it harder for nations to make it out of the group stage, with the third-placed qualification rules likely to be scrapped, should the number of participating teams be increased.
|
Year |
Number of teams |
|---|---|
|
1930 |
13 |
|
1934 |
16 |
|
1938 |
15 |
|
1950 |
13 |
|
1954-1978 |
16 |
|
1982-1994 |
24 |
|
1998-2022 |
32 |
|
2026 |
48 |
The first World Cup tournament in 1930 saw an awkward 13 teams travel to Uruguay for the inaugural competition, with the nations split into three groups of three, plus a group of four, and only the first-placed teams progressing into the knockout stage.
The 1934 edition of the tournament in Italy as FIFA ditched the group stage entirely, instead opting for a straight knockout tournament between the 16 participating sides. This format was retained for the 1938 tournament, which was scheduled to have 16 teams competing, before Austria’s withdrawal saw Sweden given a bye in the first round.
After a 12-year hiatus due to World War II, the 1950 competition saw France, Scotland, India and Turkey all withdraw before the tournament, leaving just 13 teams to compete.
Switzerland 1954 brought the first of seven consecutive tournaments to be contested by 16 teams, before the 24-team format, introduced in 1982, made way for the 32-nation setup following USA ’94.
Sunderland are set to sign a Belgian international on a two-year contract, according to David Ornstein.
According to a report from The Athletic’s Ornstein, Sunderland are set to sign Belgian international Thomas Meunier on a free transfer this summer.
The 34-year-old is set to sign a two-year contract at Sunderland and has already landed in Newcastle this morning to complete a medical.
Analyst Wade Plemons has claimed that Conor McGregor did NOT see a knee specialist just days before his UFC 329 TKO defeat to Max Holloway.
McGregor injured his knee while performing a high kick seconds into his main event return to the sport and could not continue, but many people believe he wasn’t 100% fit going into the fight in the first place.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed his knee not looking secure as he approached the Octagon, as he staggered while removing his shoes and opted against putting any weight on it as well.
Following the knee injury, fans began to speculate whether McGregor was injured heading into his bout, and damning footage was posted online which sparked massive speculation.
He was filmed by the Hollywood Fix walking into Newport Pain Management Clinic four days prior to UFC 329, and it was later reported that a knee specialist works there, leading to mass speculation that the Irishman was already injured and already had a damaged knee heading into the fight.
However, Plemons took to X denying that McGregor was there for a knee injury, tweeting: “I went to this exact location today. The knee specialist, Dr. Kramer’s office, confirmed that he DID NOT see Conor and that he IS NOT a patient of theirs. I checked the other 3 offices there that anyone could go to for ‘knee issues’. None of them had him as a patient.”
Following the visit, Plemons hit back at critics who claimed he was lying because doctors would need to follow HIPA guidelines: “tHaT’s A hIPAa ViOlAtIoN. YoU’rE lYiNg” No, it isn’t and no I’m not lol.”
McGregor’s return to the sport was short-lived, and he took to X himself to express his frustrations after his body gave out and claims that he was not carrying an injury going into the fight.
“I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.”
Before McGregor’s hiatus five years ago, he was arguably the biggest name the sport had ever seen. In 2016, the Irishman became the first fighter to hold two titles simultaneously at different weights and brought the UFC to a mainstream audience.
After his leg break in 2021, McGregor was embroiled in multiple legal issues while also dipping his toe into politics with an abandoned bid for the Irish presidency.
McGregor’s last win came six years ago after a 40-second victory over Donald Cerrone.
While “The Notorious” has insisted that he will return to the UFC once his leg heals, there will be fans questioning whether he can return to the spotlight that he left in 2021.
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