Atlanta freeway sees early competitive moment between Argentina and England buses

By Ethan Brule · Senior Hockey Writer · 15.07.2026

By Ethan Brule — 15 July 2026 — 3 min read

The rivalry between England and Argentina, known for iconic moments in World Cup history, recently saw an unexpected encounter before their semi-final match in Atlanta. Even before the teams took to the field, a competitive moment unfolded on the road to the stadium, highlighting the enduring nature of their sporting relationship.

Despite meticulous planning by FIFA and host cities regarding team movements, the buses transporting both national teams converged on the freeway en route to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This led to the Argentina team bus pausing to allow the England bus to pass, an event captured by a pregame broadcast.

Historical Encounters on the Pitch

The history between these two footballing nations is rich with memorable and often contentious incidents. One such moment occurred in 1966 during a World Cup quarter-final at London‘s Wembley Stadium. Rex Gowar, an Argentine who finished secondary school in England, attended this match with friends after easily acquiring tickets. He noted that they knew England would be playing, but the opponent was not certain when they purchased the tickets.

The game’s turning point involved Argentina midfielder Antonio Rattin, who was sent off in the first half. Rattin‘s refusal to leave the pitch caused a significant delay. Gowar recalled the surprise among spectators as Rattin continually questioned the referee’s decisions. He remembered Rattin passing close by as he eventually exited the field. The match concluded with England winning 1-0, and they subsequently went on to win the World Cup that year. The English manager, Alf Ramsey, reportedly referred to the Argentines as animals, and a photograph exists of him preventing one of his players from exchanging shirts with an Argentine player.

Twenty years later, in 1986, the teams met again in a quarter-final at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. This match took place four years after a conflict between Argentina and Britain over islands known as the Falklands by the British and the Malvinas by Argentines. Photographer Gary Hershorn, covering his first World Cup, noted the geopolitical significance of the game. Diego Maradona scored two quick goals in the second half, with the first being the infamous “Hand of God” incident.

Many present at the stadium, including Hershorn and reporter Rex Gowar, initially missed the handball. Hershorn, positioned at the opposite end of the field, did not see or photograph the moment, only realizing its magnitude later in the darkroom. Gowar, from the press box, also missed it in real-time but was alerted by a colleague. Hershorn described the moment as a bittersweet memory, having taken many photos of Maradona throughout the tournament but none of the crucial play. Gowar was instrumental in relaying Maradona‘s famous quote about the goal to the world. Argentina won the match 2-1 and ultimately lifted the trophy.

Another significant encounter occurred in 1998 during the last 16 in St. Etienne, France. Nigel Martyn, England‘s reserve goalkeeper, was on the bench for this match. He felt the media intensified the rivalry leading up to the game. The first half ended with a 2-2 scoreline. Shortly after halftime, David Beckham received a red card for kicking out at Diego Simeone. England eventually lost on penalties, and Beckham faced considerable criticism from media and fans.

Martyn believed the red card was harsh and that the subsequent criticism of Beckham was unjust. He emphasized that Beckham was deeply affected by the sending off and the team’s elimination from the tournament. Four years later, in the 2002 World Cup, England had the upper hand, defeating Argentina 1-0 with a penalty from Beckham, a result that Martyn felt was a form of revenge. Argentina failed to advance from the group stage in that tournament.

The recent incident on the Atlanta freeway, where Argentina‘s team bus had to wait for England‘s bus to pass, adds another chapter to the ongoing narrative of this intense rivalry, even before the semi-final clash in Atlanta.

Source: theglobeandmail.com

Ethan Brule

Senior Hockey Writer

Ethan Brule is a Senior Hockey Writer at CasinoNews. He covered the NHL for a national Canadian outlet. He focuses on the NHL, the Maple Leafs and Team Canada and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Media from Toronto Metropolitan University. Now based in Toronto, he plays beer-league hockey and follows the junior ranks. “Hockey in Canada is never only about the score.”