Argentine fans did not wait for their national team to reach the 2026 World Cup semi-finals before opening a verbal war with England. Historical messages and the long-standing rivalry between the two sides began surfacing during celebrations following the Tango's dramatic qualification to the quarter-finals.
Argentina's players were heard chanting references to the Falkland Islands while celebrating in the dressing room after their thrilling round-of-16 victory over Egypt, as supporters had already begun talking about a potential semi-final clash with England.
Argentina had experienced an unforgettable night in Atlanta, overturning a 2-0 deficit against Egypt to win 3-2 in dramatic fashion. Romero pulled one back in the 79th minute, captain Messi equalised just 4 minutes later, and Enzo Fernández completed the historic comeback with a header in stoppage time, booking the world champions' place in the quarter-finals against Switzerland.
The 'Muchachos' song
After the match, Argentina's players celebrated in the dressing room by singing 'Muchachos', which became a symbol of the team's journey to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar. The song was rewritten by Argentine teacher Fernando Romero, inspired by a track from Argentine ska band La Mosca, and has since become the squad's unofficial anthem.
The new version of the song carries Argentina's ambitions to win a fourth title, and evokes the two legends of Argentine football, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. Among its most prominent lyrics: "I am a fan of the national team, I support them with all my heart, we won the third title with Lionel, and we want to be champions again, I want to see the fourth star shine on the shirt, and I am Argentine from cradle to grave, for the Falkland Islands, for Diego, and for the final chapter of Leo's life."
The lyrics refer to the Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas — a historical issue that remains a sensitive point in relations between Argentina and the United Kingdom. The original version of the song opened with a line referring to "the land of Diego and Lionel and the young men of the Falklands whom I will never forget", a reference to the 1982 war in which 649 Argentine soldiers were killed during an attempt to retake the islands from the United Kingdom.
Argentine fans
The provocations were not limited to the players. Argentine supporters in Buenos Aires began celebrating with chants targeting the England team, as the prospect of the two sides meeting in the semi-finals grew. Fans chanted that England fear facing Argentina, and that Lionel Scaloni's side is capable of eliminating the Three Lions if a new encounter were to bring them together.
Among the chants that spread were: "The English are scared because they know this team has courage", while supporters also sang: "At the Azteca they already ran, and in Miami we will make them run again."
A large gathering of fans assembled at the famous Buenos Aires Obelisk to celebrate qualification, chanting: "And now you can see — whoever doesn't jump is English." The Argentine Football Association posted a clip of the players' celebrations on its official accounts, accompanied by the message: "Study and learn — this is how La Scaloneta sings."
The footballing rivalry
Argentina and England carry a special history in the World Cup, having met 5 times in the tournament. The clashes began with an England victory in 1962, and England repeated the feat in 1966 on their way to lifting the trophy on home soil. The most famous encounter, however, came at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, when Diego Maradona led Argentina to victory with his infamous handball goal and his legendary strike later known as the "Goal of the Century", en route to Argentina's title triumph.
At the 1998 World Cup, the match produced another famous moment when David Beckham was sent off during England's penalty shootout defeat to Argentina, before he responded four years later by scoring the penalty that gave his country a 1-0 victory in the 2002 World Cup group stage. The last meeting between the two sides came in 2005, when England won 3-2 in a friendly played in Switzerland.
Despite the popular enthusiasm, a semi-final meeting has yet to become reality. Both sides must first get past the quarter-finals, with Argentina facing Switzerland while England take on Norway in a difficult test. But if both teams advance, the world will witness one of the most electrifying encounters in World Cup history — between two rivals who carry a long memory of competition, and new generations seeking to write a fresh chapter in the contest.