Bellingham laughs off Paredes provocation as England-Argentina semi-final erupts with 11 fouls in 24 minutes

Jude Bellingham responded to apparent provocation from Leandro Paredes with a laugh as England and Argentina’s World Cup 2026 semi-final in Atlanta got off to a combustible start, with referee Ismail Elfath allowing 11 fouls to pass without a booking in the opening 24 minutes.

The match was always likely to carry an edge given the two nations’ storied footballing rivalry, and the opening exchanges lived up to the billing. Elliot Anderson was repeatedly fouled in the early stages and became embroiled in a tangle with Enzo Fernandez, while Giuliano Simeone — son of Diego Simeone, whose foul on David Beckham led to the midfielder’s infamous red card at France 98 — went to ground after a slight push from Jordan Pickford.

The flashpoint involving Bellingham came when Paredes, a combative defensive midfielder, appeared to direct words at the England captain following what was adjudged a fair challenge. Bellingham’s visible amusement at the exchange seemed to defuse the moment, with the score still goalless midway through the first half.

The hostility had begun before kick-off. Argentina supporters drowned out England’s national anthem with boos and chants of “whoever doesn’t jump is English”, while Three Lions fans responded in kind by jeering “La Marcha Peronista”. The atmosphere reflected not only a fierce footballing contest but a broader historical tension: the two countries fought the Falklands War in 1982, a 74-day conflict that claimed 907 lives and whose legacy continues to shape the cultural backdrop to any meeting between the sides.

Argentina’s players appeared to use that atmosphere deliberately, looking to unsettle England off the ball from the first whistle. Whether Elfath’s reluctance to reach for his cards was a conscious attempt to let the game breathe or simply a high threshold for the occasion, the effect was a first half that crackled with confrontation even before either side had threatened to score.