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England and Argentina national anthems drowned out
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37'
Yellow card Elliot ANDERSON (England) is booked by
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42'
Yellow card Lisandro MARTINEZ (Argentina) is booked by
England squad
- Selected
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1 Jordan PICKFORD Goalkeeper
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4 Declan RICE Midfielder
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5 John STONES Defender
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6 Marc GUEHI Defender
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8 Elliot ANDERSON Midfielder
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9 Harry KANE C Forward
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10 Jude BELLINGHAM Midfielder
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17 Morgan ROGERS Midfielder
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18 Anthony GORDON Forward
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24 Reece JAMES Defender
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25 Djed SPENCE Defender
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2 Ezri KONSA Defender
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3 Nico OREILLY Defender
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7 Bukayo SAKA Forward
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11 Marcus RASHFORD Forward
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12 Trevoh CHALOBAH Defender
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13 Dean Henderson Goalkeeper
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14 Jordan HENDERSON Midfielder
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15 Dan BURN Defender
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16 Kobbie MAINOO Midfielder
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19 Ollie WATKINS Forward
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20 Noni MADUEKE Forward
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21 Eberechi EZE Midfielder
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22 Ivan TONEY Forward
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23 James TRAFFORD Goalkeeper
- Full squad
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26 Jarell QUANSAH Defender
Argentina squad
- Selected
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3 Nicolas TAGLIAFICO Defender
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5 Leandro PAREDES Midfielder
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6 Lisandro MARTINEZ Defender
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9 Julian ALVAREZ Forward
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10 Lionel MESSI C Forward
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13 Cristian ROMERO Defender
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17 Giuliano SIMEONE Forward
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20 Alexis MAC ALLISTER Midfielder
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23 Emiliano MARTINEZ Goalkeeper
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24 Enzo FERNANDEZ Midfielder
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26 Nahuel MOLINA Defender
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1 Juan MUSSO Goalkeeper
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2 Marcos SENESI Defender
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4 Gonzalo MONTIEL Defender
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7 Rodrigo DE PAUL Midfielder
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8 Valentin BARCO Midfielder
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11 Giovani Lo Celso Midfielder
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12 Geronimo RULLI Goalkeeper
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14 Exequiel PALACIOS Midfielder
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15 Nico GONZALEZ Midfielder
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16 Thiago ALMADA Forward
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18 Nico PAZ Forward
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19 Nicolas OTAMENDI Defender
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21 Jose Manuel LOPEZ Forward
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22 Lautaro MARTINEZ Forward
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25 Facundo MEDINA Defender
Before England and Argentina’s 2026 Fifa World Cup semi-final, both national anthems were largely drowned out by loud crowd noise at Atlanta Stadium. The moment stood out because national anthems are a prominent part of major international fixtures, and the disruption highlighted the intensity and charged atmosphere surrounding a high-profile match between two leading football nations.
The BBC Sport clip shows that the noise affected both teams’ anthems rather than one side alone, and that it happened immediately before kick-off. The item is presented as a short video report linked to live coverage of the semi-final, with access restricted to UK users. While no cause beyond the crowd noise is given, the incident underlined how difficult it was to hear the formal pre-match ceremony in the stadium.
In short
- Crowd noise drowned out both teams’ national anthems
- It happened before England v Argentina’s World Cup semi-final
- The incident reflected an intense pre-match atmosphere
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
National anthems hold ceremonial significance at international sporting occasions and deserve respectful attention. When crowd noise prevents them from being heard properly, it falls short of the respect owed to participating nations and their symbols. Event organisers should consider measures to ensure anthems are heard clearly, maintaining the formal dignity of this important pre-match tradition.
The case against
The enthusiastic crowd noise before a major World Cup semi-final is a natural expression of sporting passion that makes international football compelling. Both teams' anthems were equally affected, indicating no targeted disrespect to either nation. Such organic crowd enthusiasm is an inevitable and valuable part of the matchday experience; attempting to suppress it would diminish the authenticity that fans bring to these occasions.
Explained simply
The Fifa World Cup is the world's most prestigious international football tournament, contested by national teams every four years. The semi-finals represent the competition's climactic stages, with only two teams competing for a place in the final.
England and Argentina are two of the world's leading football nations, with some of the largest supporter bases in international sport. Matches between major nations like these, especially at World Cup semi-finals, draw enormous crowds and passionate atmospheres.
National anthems are a formal ceremonial part of major international sporting events, traditionally performed before matches as a mark of national identity. The pre-match ceremony is considered an important ritual in football fixtures, particularly at high-profile tournaments where large crowds gather.