The upcoming World Cup semi-final clash between England and Argentina has been designated as the highest risk game, according to a recent briefing involving the FBI, event officials, and local law enforcement.
To bolster security in Atlanta, a comprehensive plan will be put into action. This includes the deployment of separate entrances for each team’s supporters, though inside the stadium, fans will not be divided.
On Monday, a meeting between the FBI, FIFA, and police highlighted the historical tensions between the two nations and the potential for clashes among their fans.
Although significant steps will be taken to maintain a distance between the rival fans outside, officials acknowledge their limited control over interactions within the stadium’s interiors, due to FIFA’s policy on non-segregated seating. Particular attention will be focused on the common areas where fans are likely to come into contact.
Tensions have already surfaced, as evidenced by video footage from Saturday showing altercations between supporters of the two teams. In one clip, an England fan is seen exchanging blows with three individuals wearing Argentina jerseys, while another video depicts a confrontation at a bar involving Argentina fans and their English counterparts.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has called for calm, despite the fact his players have continuously sang a song referencing the Falkland Islands during their progression throughout the tournament. In 1982, following Argentina’s invasion, 907 people lost their lives in a conflict that saw Britain reassert control over the South Atlantic islands. Argentina’s foreign minister this week restated their claim over the territory, which was swiftly rejected by Sir Keir Starmer.
Argentina supporters attending England’s quarter-final game against Norway fight in the stands with an English fan
England fans travelling to Atlanta for Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final with Argentina will encounter strong security measures in place – with the fixture classified as the ‘highest risk’
Argentina sang a song about the Falkland Islands to taunt England after beating Switzerland
‘The message to the Argentine people is that this is a soccer match,’ Scaloni said. ‘We’re going to face a great team with a great coach, but it is just a soccer match, nothing more than that.’
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford sounded a similar note. ‘It is just a game of football and two passionate sets of fans going there to watch a top-level game,’ he said. ‘That’s what football does. It brings fans together, it brings the nations together and it’ll be, it’s two proud nations, that’s, that’s the key word, and we’re both proud nations. The football will do its talking.’
A heavy police presence will be visible outside each team hotel while there will be a major focus in the area around the spectacular Mercedes-Benz Stadium which is where many of the fans are expected to congregate.
All of England’s games in the US have so far felt like home matches but it will be a different story when they return to Atlanta than it was for their clash with DR Congo in the Georgia city.
There is a huge Argentinian diaspora in the US, with thousands due to travel to the game from Florida. Officials expect a 50-50 situation in the stadium, but England’s fans may well find themselves outnumbered in the city itself.
As Daily Mail Sport previously reported, there will be an increased number of law enforcement officers on patrol, while attention will be paid to the fan fest, which will be screening the France versus Spain match on Tuesday.
In 1986, Argentina defeated England 2-1 in a Mexico World Cup quarter-final, when Diego Maradona scored the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal when he punched the ball past Peter Shilton.
A small team from the UK Football Policing Unit is in the US, will be on the ground in Atlanta and has been successfully liaising with local law enforcement agencies.
In keeping with the rest of the tournament just four arrests were made around the England versus Norway game. One was for trying to gain entry without a ticket, one was a fan who refused to leave when asked to do so and two were around a disturbance between two England fans. Police have again praised the behaviour of an estimated 30,000 who supported the Three Lions at the game.
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