England was eliminated from the World Cup following a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semifinal round. The match centered on a disputed goal, with England supporters asserting that the Argentine goalscorer should have received a red card for an elbow incident that occurred during play. England player Jude Bellingham visibly reacted with frustration to the decision, and subsequent reports indicated he had engaged in a physical altercation with an Argentine player.

The loss prompted wider criticism from England fans regarding refereeing decisions throughout the match, with some characterizing the decisions as disadvantageous to England and favorable to Argentina. Post-match tensions escalated when Argentine players engaged in celebration activities that included booing during the English national anthem and displaying a banner referencing the Falkland Islands, further inflaming English sentiment about the encounter.