The 2026 World Cup semifinals feature France, Spain, Argentina, and England. The Argentina-England matchup, scheduled for Wednesday in Atlanta, carries particular historical weight due to the long-standing rivalry between the two nations, tied both to the 1982 Falklands-Malvinas war and the 1986 World Cup quarter-final known for Maradona's "Mano de Dios" goal. This will be Lionel Messi's first official match against England. The Argentina national team, led by coach Lionel Scaloni, is reportedly making an effort to keep the focus on the sporting dimension, downplaying the historical and political implications of the fixture. Argentina will wear a blue jersey reminiscent of the 1986 kit, described by ANSA as a tribute to the "Mano de Dios" match. The same source reports that Messi gifted his number 10 jersey to Roberto Baggio after the victory against Switzerland. The global appeal of Messi and the Argentina jersey extends beyond traditional fan bases, attracting followers from various countries, according to La Stampa. The semifinals as a whole are framed by la Repubblica as a confrontation between four distinct football philosophies, represented by France, Spain, Argentina, and England respectively.