The Atlanta stadium is ready to host the much-anticipated semifinal of the 2026 World Cup, with Argentina and England set to play for a spot in the final against the Spanish team. This won’t be just an ordinary semifinal for the English team, but rather a chance to avenge themselves for something that took place 40 years ago.

“This is the rivalry that we are talking about,” Jonathan Hunt said on Fox News on July 15th. “And the biggest point of that rivalry goes back to 1986, 40 years ago. World Cup quarterfinals: Diego Maradona, the Messi of his day, punched the ball with his hand into the net over the England goalkeeper.”

“That was the goal that made the difference. It was a red-card offense. He should have been sent off. Nobody who watched it in England that day, including me, has ever forgotten that moment. We believe it is time for vengeance for what Maradona called the Hand of God.”

After 8 years, England has reached the World Cup semi-finals, so the energy is running high. It is not about singing ” Wonderwall ” this time, but to avenge their loss, which still runs deep in the British memory. The last time England played Argentina was during Maradona’s era. In the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals, England met Argentina, which was in a war mood.

Just four years prior, in 1982, Argentina and the United Kingdom fought a brief but bloody conflict over the Falkland Islands. More than 600 young Argentine conscripts lost their lives. Maradona later admitted in his autobiography that the team viewed the football match as a literal act of revenge for the fallen soldiers.

After a first half without any goals scored from either side, Maradona took it upon himself to mark their victory. He chased the ball all the way into the penalty box and used his left hand to punch it past the rushing, 6’1″ English goalkeeper Peter Shilton. In the 55th minute, he scored another goal with a breathtaking 60-yard solo run.

The loss left deep, unhealed sporting wounds in England that fuel the narrative of their World Cup semifinal meeting. In England, rules are absolute. Maradona’s unpunished handball violated the “gentlemanly” conduct the English pride themselves on. To this day, English fans and figures view the event as an unrepentant theft. So the British player will do anything to win, but more than that, it is all about getting the trophy home.

“You know it’s going to be an outstanding game there, Jonathan added. “Two excellent teams. You got Messi, the GOAT himself, for Argentina, of course, up against Harry Kane for England, a great striker himself. Jude Bellingham, a midfield genius.

For both teams, it is about ride or die. On one side, it is Lionel Messi who is playing his last FIFA, and on the other side is Harry Kane trying to get this one big win for his nation.