Falklands row 'could be settled at England's World Cup clash TONIGHT', says BBC's John Simpson - as Argentina's vice-president urges Messi's team to 'claim what's ours'

By PATRICK HARRINGTON, UK NEWS REPORTER Published: 10:13, 15 July 2026 | Updated: 10:27, 15 July 2026 England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina tonight will see a bitter sporting rivalry and a decades-long political row come to a head. The significance of the match has been feverishly talked up - with even the BBC's John Simpson warning the result will go 'way beyond football', with implications for the feud over the Falkland Islands.  The celebrated world affairs editor wrote: 'If Argentina wins tomorrow night, it’ll put real fire behind the demand for the Falklands.  'If England wins, that should put the lid on it – for now.' He later said that 'football is politics in Argentina' - and suggested Javier Milei would jump on a win as he needs a cause. Meanwhile, Argentina's Vice-President upped the ante with a battle cry, urging her country to 'claim what's ours' back from 'the usurping pirates'. FIFA has classified the fixture as 'highest risk' after a meeting with the FBI, in light of the enflamed tensions. The two nations have traded blows over the Falklands - a self-governing overseas British territory 300 miles from Argentina - since the places in the semi final were booked. Argentinian fans in Atlanta yesterday have unfurled flags referencing the Falklands as they partied in Atlanta ahead of the match The BBC's celebrated world affairs editor suggested the result tonight would have implications for the Falklands feud England fans will also be out in full force, with the clash being classified as 'highest risk'  Argentina's players have chanted about beating England 'for the Malvinas' - using their native name for the archipelago.  Their Foreign Minister, Pablo Quirno, claimed the people living on the islands had been 'artificially implanted' - and said that a 2013 referendum on British sovereignty was illegitimate. Falklanders were asked in a ballot whether they wanted the islands to remain under British rule, with 99.8 per cent voting yes.  Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper rejected the referendum attack and tried to cool tensions. 'We're looking forward to the football,' Ms Cooper told The Telegraph. The animosity dates back principally to a ten-week war in 1982, when an Argentinian invasion of the Falklands was seen off by the British - at the cost of 907 lives. It spilled over into football four years later when Maradona scored his infamous 'hand of God' goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter final clash. He used his fist to put the opening goal past England, allowing Argentina to win 2-1 and go on to claim the World Cup trophy. The BBC's John Simpson suggested Argentina's fanatical president Javier Milei (pictured) would leap on a win as a political cause England stars Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane will need to continue their flying form to steer England past Argentina Some Argentinian fans had yesterday already begun packing out central Atalanta ahead of the game and unfurled flags bearing pictures of the Falkland Islands. There was a large police presence at Underground Atlanta with entry and exits strictly controlled and sniffer dogs searched people's bags before they were allowed in. FIFA has banned Argentinian flags featuring the Falklands from the stadium. One onlooker said: 'It was madness. There must have been at least 10,000 people there drinking and dancing and jumping up and down singing songs. 'It got quite lively and the place was packed out and there were loads of flags with Diego Maradona's face on them and some also had a picture of the Falkland Islands. 'The woman next to me asked if I was going to the match and when I told her yes and that I was English she said, "Better not to say that here, just to be careful."' Refusing to keep football separated from politics, Quirno wrote in an essay last week: 'Our claim will not be relinquished, resigned or abandoned.  'The Falkland Islands are history, territory, sea, memory and destiny. 'They are a promise between generations. They are the voice of a nation that knows how to wait without giving up and knows how to demand without surrendering.' Argentinian Vice-President piled in: 'Tomorrow we play against the usurping pirates. 'This isn't just another match. I'm not going to be politically correct or cold-hearted; against the English, it's always something more.  'It's the Malvinas, it's Diego, it's Leo's last one, and it's putting the brakes on the invaders. Go Argentina! Because until our last breath, we're going to claim what's ours!'   But Lionel Scaloni, the South American side's manager, fought back against the political clamour. He said: 'No, no, no. This is just a football match. Let’s not look for other stuff.  'It’s a football game against a great team, with a great manager who I admire. But it’s a football match. End of.' As detailed by Daily Mail Sport, Wednesday's semi-final has been classified as the 'highest risk' match at the World Cup following a meeting of the FBI, officials and local police. A wide-ranging series of security measures will be implemented in Atlanta, including separate gates for entry for the two sets of supporters – although there will be no segregation inside the stadium. The FBI, FIFA and police met on Monday, where the historical divide between the two nations and concerns over potential issues between rival supporters was outlined. While considerable efforts will be made to keep fans apart, there is an acceptance that there is little officials can do inside the stadium thanks to the lack of segregation at FIFA games.  Special attention will be paid to concourse areas, where fans are expected to mix. Videos have already circulated online of disturbances between Argentina and England fans on Saturday.  In one, a Three Lions supporter is seen in the stadium trading punches with three men in Argentina shirts, while another clip appeared to show a group of Argentina-shirted followers confronting England fans in a bar. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has called for calm, despite the fact his players have continuously sung a song referencing the Falkland Islands during their progression throughout the tournament.