Argentina vice president Victoria Villarruel stirred controversy ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final against England by invoking the Falkland Islands dispute and describing the Three Lions as “pirate usurpers” in a post on X.“Tomorrow we play against the pirate usurpers. It’s not just another match. I’m not going to be politically correct or indifferent. Against the English, it’s always something more. It’s the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), it’s Diego (Maradona), it’s Leo’s (Messi’s) last one, and it’s about standing up to the invaders. Long live Argentina! Because until our last breath, we’ll keep demanding what’s ours!” she wrote, translated from Latin American Spanish, on X.Villarruel’s remarks come as defending champions Argentina prepare to face England in Atlanta on Wednesday (local time), with a place in the World Cup final at stake. The winner will meet Spain, who booked their place in the title clash with a 2-0 victory over France.The contest will mark a landmark moment for Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who is set to face England for the first time in his illustrious international career.Despite representing Argentina for more than two decades and playing against every other FIFA World Cup-winning nation, Messi has never taken on the Three Lions.“The truth is, it’s special,” Messi told reporters after Argentina’s 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in the quarter-finals.“It’s a special match because it’s my first time. I’ve played against everyone except England. And it’s special, as I said before, because they’re a big team, a powerhouse. It’s always nice to play against teams like that, in matches like this, and especially in the semi-finals of a World Cup,” he added.The semi-final also revives one of international football’s most enduring rivalries. England and Argentina have not met in a competitive fixture since the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when England secured a 1-0 victory.Argentina have reached the last four after winning all three of their Group J matches before overcoming Cabo Verde, Egypt and Switzerland in the knockout rounds. The defending champions have scored nine goals across their three knockout fixtures, the highest tally among the semi-finalists.England, meanwhile, advanced with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Norway, courtesy of Jude Bellingham’s brace. The Three Lions had earlier edged past DR Congo and Mexico by one-goal margins, highlighting the resilience that has carried them into just their fourth World Cup semi-final.For Messi, the clash offers an opportunity to complete a rare missing chapter in his international career, while for Argentina and England, another high-stakes encounter adds to a rivalry shaped by decades of sporting history and political undertones.
