George Galloway has stirred up fresh controversy surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026 by wishing England a "thumping victory" against what he referred to as the "cheats of Argentina" in a "rigged World Cup" semifinal showdown. The British politician and host of MOATS shared his thoughts just before England faced off against Argentina at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Galloway contended that various refereeing and VAR decisions had favored Lionel Messi's team throughout the tournament. To back up his assertions, he pointed to contentious moments from Argentina's knockout victories over Egypt and Switzerland, which had already drawn criticism from rival fans and pundits around the globe.
Before the match on July 16, 2026, Galloway shared the more diplomatic sentiment, as he said, "I wish England a thumping victory tonight in the rigged World Cup against the cheats of Argentina."
Galloway pointed to Argentina's unbeaten 5-0 record in matches officiated by referee Ismail Elfath and questioned FIFA's appointment for the semifinal. He also cited Egypt's disallowed goal and penalty appeal, along with Switzerland's controversial red-card incident involving Breel Embolo, as examples of decisions that benefited Argentina.
Argentina Fight Back From Behind to Book World Cup Final Spot
Argentina kept their dreams of back-to-back World Cup titles alive with a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over England in the semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. England, eager to reach their first World Cup final since 1966, seemed poised to break their long-standing drought when Anthony Gordon scored shortly after halftime. With the lead in hand, Thomas Tuchel's squad shifted their focus to defense, while Argentina ramped up their attack in search of an equalizer.
England's goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, was crucial in maintaining their lead for much of the match. He made a series of vital saves as Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, and the rest of the Argentine offense pressed hard. However, as the game wore on, England found it increasingly difficult to keep hold of the ball. Argentina began to seize control, and coach Lionel Scaloni's substitutions injected new life and attacking flair into the team.
The breakthrough finally came in the 85th minute when Enzo Fernández unleashed a stunning shot from about 20 yards, leveling the score for the defending champions. Argentina kept pushing forward and completed their comeback in stoppage time when Lautaro Martínez headed in a cross from Messi. This victory propelled Argentina into their second consecutive World Cup final, where they will face Spain at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. For England, the quest for a major men's trophy stretches on for yet another six decades.
