More than 30,000 people have been banned from attending the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday evening, with the Argentinian government issuing a list to U.S. authorities. The match has been classified as the highest risk of the tournament following meetings between the FBI, FIFA, and local police.
Falklands Tensions Fuel Security Concerns
The two nations have not met competitively since the 2002 World Cup, when England won 1-0 via a David Beckham penalty. The relationship has been strained since the 1982 Falklands War, which resulted in 649 Argentine and 255 British deaths. Argentina's Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva confirmed that fans will not be permitted to enter the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with flags or political messages referencing the Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas.
Monteoliva said: "Fans will not be permitted to enter with flags or political messages linked to the Malvinas, flag, a shirt, a banner, or anything with political content or racial provocation."
Security Measures Inside and Outside Stadium
Separate entry gates will be used for English and Argentine supporters, though there will be no segregation inside the stadium. This approach has been a theme of the tournament, partly due to ticket resale platforms mixing fans. Officials acknowledge they can only do so much once supporters are seated.
England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the historical significance but said past events will not be a distraction. He stated: "I would say it's irrelevant but I am not sure. The players are aware of what it means to them. If a fixture has iconic moments, you cannot say it is just another football match. We don't speak, me and my team, about the historic events. The tension is big enough. We try to reduce information the bigger the stage gets and the bigger the tension."
