Argentina vice president invokes Falklands dispute before England semifinal

Argentina’s Vice President Victoria Villarruel cast the national team’s World Cup semifinal against England in political terms, calling the English “usurping pirates” in a post on X. Her remarks tied the match to Argentina’s long-running claim over the Falkland Islands, known in Spanish as the Malvinas.

Villarruel wrote that Argentina would be playing “against the usurping pirates” and said the semifinal was more than an ordinary football game. The match is scheduled to be played in Atlanta.

The Falklands dispute has shaped relations between Argentina and the United Kingdom for decades. Argentina claims sovereignty over the South Atlantic islands, while Britain controls them.

Villarruel also linked the game to Argentine football history and national identity. In the same post, she referred to the Malvinas, the late Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, describing the tournament as “Leo’s last run.” She ended by backing Argentina and saying the country would continue to claim what it considers its own.

Her family history adds weight to her public stance. AFP reported that Villarruel’s father fought in the 1982 Falklands War, when Argentina’s military dictatorship and the United Kingdom went to war over the islands.

The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with a British victory. It left 649 Argentines and 255 Britons dead.

Team tries to lower political temperature

Argentina’s football staff and players have taken a different tone before the semifinal, seeking to keep attention on the game itself. Coach Lionel Scaloni said the fixture should be treated as sport rather than as an extension of history or politics.

“It’s a football match, plain and simple. So, mixing the two would be madness,” Scaloni said.

The contrast between Villarruel’s comments and the team’s message underscored the sensitivity around Argentina-England matches. The rivalry carries memories of the Falklands War as well as football history, including Maradona’s famous role in Argentina’s 1986 World Cup victory over England.

Authorities are also preparing for political symbols around the semifinal. Argentine Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva said Tuesday that the security plan for the Atlanta match would bar fans from bringing flags or other items referring to the Falkland Islands into the stadium.

The restriction points to concern that the island dispute could spill into the stands during one of the tournament’s highest-profile matches. Villarruel’s post, meanwhile, showed that the issue remains potent in Argentine politics even as the national team tries to frame the semifinal as a football contest.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.