Argentina–England football rivalry

The Argentina–England football rivalry is a highly competitive sports rivalry that exists between the national football teams of the two countries, as well as their respective sets of fans. Games between the two teams, even those that are only friendly matches, are often marked by notable and sometimes controversial incidents.

The rivalry is unusual in that it is an intercontinental one; typically such footballing rivalries exist between countries that are close to one another, for example France–Italy or Argentina–Brazil. England is regarded in Argentina as one of the major rivals of the national football team, matched only by Brazil, Germany and Uruguay. The rivalry is seen as equal in England, partly due to non-footballing events, especially the 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom.

The rivalry emerged across several games during the second half of the twentieth century. It was driven by various controversial incidents, particularly those in the games played between the teams at the 1966 and 1986 FIFA World Cups.

Overall, England hold the edge in the rivalry in official matches, with six victories to two by Argentina, and five draws (one draw being an Argentina victory by penalty shoot-out). In the World Cup, England also lead Argentina in their head-to-head record, with three victories (in 1962, 1966 and 2002) to Argentina's one (1986, in addition to their 1998 shoot-out victory).