Jeremy Clarkson rips into Argentina ahead of World Cup clash

The semi-final clash represents one of football’s most storied grudge matches, with the nations having met five times previously at World Cups stretching back to 1962.

Their rivalry extends far beyond the pitch, too, given the fact that political tensions surrounding the 1982 Falklands conflict continue to shape relations between the two countries.

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Wednesday’s match will see 39-year-old Lionel Messi face England for the first time in his decorated career during what is likely his final World Cup.

The upcoming clash will inevitably revive memories for Mr Clarkson of his dramatic expulsion from Argentina in 2014, when the Top Gear presenter and his crew were forced to flee the country after violent confrontations.

The controversy centred on a Porsche used during filming that bore the registration plate H982 FKL, which appeared to reference the Falklands War.

Mr Clarkson maintained the plate was entirely coincidental, telling the Sun: “We knew absolutely nothing about the number plate, it was just an unbelievable coincidence. I swear on my kids’ lives.”

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Despite the crew removing the offending plate after complaints emerged on social media, a mob descended on their hotel in Ushuaia, hurling rocks and bricks whilst brandishing pickaxe handles.

State officials subsequently ordered the BBC team to leave the country, with Mr Clarkson describing the incident as more terrifying than his experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So after Thomas Tuchel’s England saw off Norway on Saturday evening, Mr Clarkson couldn’t resist a dig at England’s fellow semi-finalists.

“It was hard to dislike our opponents last night,” Mr Clarkson began in an X post, before rather unsubtly signing off: “On Wednesday however…”

It was hard to dislike our opponents last night. On Wednesday however….

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) July 12, 2026

The swipe prompted a huge reaction from social media users with over 115k likes and 3.5m views in less than 24 hours after publication.

Meanwhile, footage from Argentina’s dressing room following their quarter-final victory over Switzerland revealed players singing an obscene chant referencing the Falklands conflict, pledging to win the tournament “for the Falklands, for Diego and for Leo’s ending”.

The defending champions wore armbands during that match in memory of Antonio Rattín, the former captain whose sending-off at Wembley in 1966 led to the introduction of yellow and red cards. His death at 89 was announced on Saturday.

Elsewhere on Saturday night, Tuchel’s side progressed to the last four courtesy of Jude Bellingham’s brace in a 2-1 victory over Norway in Miami, though the victory was far from plain sailing.

The Real Madrid midfielder struck twice, including a dramatic extra-time winner after Andreas Schjelderup had given the Norwegians the lead.

His first-half equaliser sparked dispute when replays suggested a Norway goal-kick had struck an overhead television cable suspended above the pitch during the build-up.

Fifa issued a statement claiming ball sensors showed no evidence of contact, though Norwegian coach Ståle Solbakken disputed this, arguing it had caused “a misunderstanding among our players”.

Both nations’ supporters are expected to descend on Georgia in significant numbers, with an estimated 15,000 England fans having attended the Miami fixture.

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Meanwhile, Mr Clarkson found himself in the news over the weekend after taking aim at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

The Grand Tour icon branded Mr Farage’s decision to trigger a new by-election in his constituency of Clacton-on-Sea as a “temper tantrum” after he faced increasing scrutiny about his finances.