England legend David Beckham unexpectedly became the center of attention during the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina after being loudly booed by thousands of Argentina supporters inside the stadium.

The reaction came nearly three decades after Beckham’s infamous red card against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, proving that one of football’s greatest rivalries still evokes strong emotions.

Beckham attended the semifinal with his wife Victoria Beckham and their children to cheer on England in one of the World Cup’s most storied rivalries.

However, when cameras showed the former England captain on the stadium’s giant screen, loud boos and whistles echoed from sections of Argentina supporters instead of applause. The moment quickly went viral on social media, with many fans suggesting the reaction was rooted in memories of the controversial 1998 FIFA World Cup clash between the two nations.

One fan commented, “They still haven’t forgotten 1998.” Another wrote, “He’s getting booed simply because he’s David Beckham.” Others defended the former Manchester United star, arguing that Beckham deserves respect for his achievements regardless of past rivalries.

The hostility dates back to the Round of 16 match between England and Argentina at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

During the match, Beckham was fouled by Diego Simeone. While lying on the ground, Beckham lightly kicked out at the Argentine midfielder. Simeone dramatically fell to the turf, and the referee showed Beckham a straight red card. Reduced to 10 men, England fought to a 2-2 draw after extra time before losing on penalties. The defeat made Beckham one of England’s most criticized players. He received intense public backlash and even death threats following the elimination.

Years later, Diego Simeone acknowledged that he had exaggerated his reaction during the incident to ensure Beckham was sent off. Despite the controversy, the two football icons have long since reconciled. In 2023, Simeone appeared in Beckham‘s Netflix documentary series, where both men reflected openly on the famous incident and acknowledged that the rivalry belonged in the past.

Ahead of one of Argentina’s matches at the 2026 World Cup, Beckham even shared a photo of himself with Simeone on social media, signaling that their relationship had been fully repaired.

While Beckham and Simeone have moved on, many supporters have not. For some Argentina fans, Beckham remains closely associated with one of the most memorable World Cup encounters between the two footballing nations. The boos heard during the 2026 semifinal served as a reminder that football’s greatest rivalries often outlast the players themselves.

Although Beckham retired years ago, he remains one of England’s most celebrated footballers, earning 115 international caps, the third-most in the nation’s history behind Peter Shilton (125) and Wayne Rooney (120).

Nearly 28 years after the incident in France, the emotions surrounding England versus Argentina continue to resonate—both on the pitch and in the stands.

Sources: kenh14