England play Argentina in their World Cup semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Police have stepped up security across Atlanta as the city prepares to host England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina – a fixture fans have said has “so much history and so much rivalry”.
The Atlanta Police Department said extra officers and resources had already been deployed around the city before Wednesday’s match, with increased patrols planned around the Mercedes-Benz Stadium as well as “entertainment districts and other high-traffic areas”.
The move comes as thousands of England and Argentina supporters are set to descend on the city for the first World Cup knockout meeting between the nations since David Beckham’s red card in England’s dramatic last-16 exit in 1998.
A statement from the Atlanta Police Department said: “As Atlanta prepares to host an upcoming FIFA World Cup semi-final match and welcomes increased numbers of residents and visitors, the Atlanta Police Department has enhanced its citywide public safety and security posture.
“Additional personnel and resources are already deployed and will continue to be strategically assigned in and around the event venues, entertainment districts and other high-traffic areas to help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
“These proactive measures are designed to protect the public, deter criminal activity and ensure residents and visitors can safely enjoy this historic event.”
England supporter Rob Osborn said the fixture still carried the weight of decades of history, including Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal at the 1986 World Cup.
Speaking in Atlanta on Monday, the fan from Stoke Golding, Leicestershire, told the PA news agency: “Yeah, there’s so much history and so much rivalry – going back to 1986.
“If we can stop the Argentinians from cheating, like they have done in this tournament again, but with the hand of FIFA, then I think we might have a shot.
“I think we’ve got to have luck on our side, but we’ll see. We’ll see how it goes.”
Asked whether victory would finally lay some of the rivalry to rest, he said: “It will close the book on it, won’t it?
“The Azteca, we weren’t there, but it would have been amazing to experience that.
“If the guys can get us over the line of ticking that box and closing the mouths, then it’s that voodoo being put to bed.”
Ahead of the semi final, the police officer responsible for the UK’s football policing said England supporters had set an example throughout the tournament.
Chief Constable Mark Roberts of Cheshire Police, the UK’s football policing lead, said the conduct of England fans at Saturday’s quarter-final victory over Norway in Miami had again been “exemplary”, with “no animosity between fans at the end of the match”.
He contrasted that with more than 500 reported incidents and more than 100 arrests across the UK during the same evening, most of them alcohol-related, and urged supporters watching Wednesday’s match at home to follow the example set by fans travelling in the United States.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford also said his side would not allow themselves to become distracted by the emotion surrounding the fixture.
“I think you’ve seen throughout the tournament our desire to win tackles, we’ve not got into any scuffles or anything,” he said.
“We’ve been very well respected within the game. Decisions go our way, they don’t go our way, we just reset, we go again and we let the football do the talking.”
Pickford said England’s focus was simply on earning a place in the World Cup final rather than dwelling on the history between the countries.
He said: “It’s us against them to get a place in the final, and it’s a game of football. Ninety minutes, 120, penalties.
“We’re ready for anything, and it’s us against them and it’s about who comes out on top.”
The match also comes against the backdrop of renewed political tension over the Falkland Islands after Downing Street rejected claims by Argentina’s foreign minister that the islanders were an “artificially implanted” population.
Downing Street insisted the islanders are British and have the right to determine their own future, with Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman saying football “should be about the game and about bringing people together”.
