Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has sought to strip the symbolic weight from Wednesday's 2026 World Cup semifinal against England, insisting at a press conference that "it's a football match, nothing more" and that it would make no difference if the opponent were Norway. The clash carries deep historical resonance in Argentina, evoking both the 1982 South Atlantic conflict (the Falklands War) and Diego Maradona's iconic two-goal performance in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal exactly forty years ago. Argentina advanced to the last four by defeating Switzerland 3–1 in extra time in Kansas City, setting up a potential final against the winner of France versus Spain.