ATLANTA — The FBI has designated Wednesday's World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina as the "highest risk" match of the tournament so far, prompting an extensive security operation in Atlanta driven by long-standing historical and political tensions between the two nations.

Officials from the FBI, FIFA and the Atlanta Police Department met Monday to assess potential flashpoints ahead of the match, according to reporting from The Mirror. The meeting focused specifically on the historical divide between English and Argentine supporters tied to the Falkland Islands, a British-controlled territory in the South Atlantic that remains a source of dispute between the two countries.

A Rivalry Rooted in War

The tension between England and Argentina traces back to the 1982 Falklands War, a nearly two-month conflict that began after an Argentine invasion of the British territory. The war resulted in the deaths of 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British combatants and three civilians, leaving a lasting mark on relations between the two nations that has periodically resurfaced during their sporting encounters over the decades since.

Wednesday's semifinal marks the first meeting between England and Argentina in 21 years, adding further significance to a fixture already carrying decades of footballing history. The two countries have met four previous times at the World Cup, with England winning in 1966 and 2002, and Argentina winning in 1986 and 1998, the latter defined by Diego Maradona's controversial "Hand of God" goal and his celebrated "Goal of the Century," both scored in the same 1986 quarterfinal match.

Political Tensions Resurface During the Tournament

The historical rivalry has taken on renewed........

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