The stage was set for a historic World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. But before a single ball was kicked, the match took an ugly turn — and it had nothing to do with the players.
As England's national anthem, "God Save the King," began playing on FOX's broadcast, the sound was nearly impossible to hear. Argentina's supporters, who packed the stadium in overwhelming numbers, unleashed a deafening wave of boos, chants, and noise, deliberately drowning out the anthem. FOX announcers admitted they had never witnessed such blatant disrespect during a pregame ceremony.
The incident quickly ignited a firestorm on social media, with fans from around the world condemning the behavior. "The most hated team, the most hated fans," one user wrote. Another added, "No class!" A third fan declared, "I really didn’t have a team to root for, but when Argentina fans disrespected England's national anthem, I’m going for England. The decorum of the world is gone. Sad."
When it was Argentina's turn, the scene was markedly different. Their players and coaching staff sang along passionately, belting out their anthem at full volume. The contrast was stark, and it underscored the intense rivalry between the two nations — a rivalry that has now spilled into the stands.
This isn't the first time Argentina's fan base has drawn criticism for its behavior. The team's passionate supporters have a reputation for pushing boundaries, but many argue that national anthems should be off-limits. "Have some respect during an anthem," pleaded one commenter. Another added, "Argentina don't have good sportsmanship in them, see how they were booing the English anthem."
The timing couldn't be more charged. The winner of this semifinal earns a spot in Sunday's World Cup final against Spain. With John Terry firing a warning that England are better than Argentina, the tension was already high. Now, the off-field antics have added another layer of animosity.
Even Jerry Jones was booed at his own stadium during the World Cup semifinal, showing that the atmosphere in Atlanta was anything but neutral. The Argentina faithful have turned the venue into a cauldron of noise, but for many, the anthem stunt crossed a line.
The World Cup is meant to bring nations together through sport, but moments like this remind us that old rivalries die hard. As the match unfolds, all eyes will be on whether England can channel the disrespect into motivation — and whether Argentina's fans can show any semblance of grace in victory or defeat.
Kickoff for the final is set for 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, airing live on FOX from New York New Jersey Stadium.
