Located 370 miles from the Argentine coast and over 7,450 miles from the UK, the archipelago was the scene of a war between the two countries in 1982.
What was the Falklands War between Argentina and England about? Who won?
Located about 370 miles off Argentina’s coast and more than 7,450 miles from the United Kingdom, the Falkland Islands have remained at the center of a sovereignty dispute between the two countries for nearly two centuries. The dispute led to a 74-day war in 1982 and continues to shape the political backdrop of matches between Argentina and England.
On Sunday, June 22, 1986, exactly four years after the end of the Falklands War, Diego Armando Maradona scored what are widely considered the two most iconic goals in FIFA World Cup history.
The first was the infamous “Hand of God.” Rising above England goalkeeper Peter Shilton at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, Maradona punched the ball into the net with his hand, unseen by the officials.
Just minutes later came the “Goal of the Century.” In a breathtaking run covering roughly 65 yards in about 10 seconds, Maradona picked up the ball in his own half and weaved past five English players, Peter Reid, Terry Butcher, Terry Fenwick, Glenn Hoddle, and Peter Shilton, combining speed, close control, and extraordinary skill before scoring one of the greatest goals ever recorded.
Maradona’s performance secured Argentina’s victory in a match that many Argentines viewed as symbolic revenge for the country’s defeat in the Falklands War, fought between April 2 and June 14, 1982, just four years before that World Cup. The conflict claimed the lives of 649 Argentine service members, 255 British service members, and three civilian islanders.
Origins and course of the conflict
To understand the roots of the war, it is necessary to go back nearly 150 years.
The Falkland Islands, located in the South Atlantic about 370 miles from Argentina’s mainland and more than 7,450 miles from Great Britain, have been the subject of competing sovereignty claims since 1833.
That year, British authorities took control of the islands, beginning a territorial dispute that remains unresolved. In 1982, amid a severe economic and social crisis and under the military dictatorship of Leopoldo Galtieri, Argentina launched a military operation to retake the islands.
The United Kingdom, led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and facing its own economic challenges, including high unemployment, responded by dispatching a naval task force to regain control. Several NATO member countries provided intelligence, logistical support, and military supplies to the British campaign.
After 74 days of fighting, Argentina was defeated, and the United Kingdom reestablished and consolidated its control over the islands.
The situation today
More than four decades later, the sovereignty dispute remains unresolved. The United Kingdom continues to administer the Falkland Islands, while Argentina maintains its claim to sovereignty.
Today, the issue remains before the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization, which considers the islands a non-self-governing territory whose status has yet to be resolved. The committee has repeatedly called on Buenos Aires and London to reach a peaceful solution through negotiations.
Successive Argentine presidents have sought talks, but British governments have consistently declined to negotiate sovereignty. Current Argentine President Javier Milei has suggested using the transfer of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China as a possible long-term reference point.
“After a certain period of time, the agreed-upon conditions were met, and the United Kingdom returned Hong Kong to China. We should pursue something similar here, while also taking into account the wishes of the people who live on the islands. The goal is to reach a long-term agreement that ultimately returns the islands to Argentina,” Milei said in an interview before taking office.
Scaloni: “It’s Just a Soccer Match”
With memories of the 1982 war and Argentina’s continuing sovereignty claim still part of the national conversation, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni sought to downplay the political and historical significance of the team’s semifinal against England, emphasizing that the focus should remain on the game itself at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. “It’s just a soccer match… Let’s not make it anything more than that,” Scaloni said.
Even so, after Argentina’s 3-1 victory over Switzerland secured a place in the semifinals, players celebrated in the locker room by singing chants referencing the Falkland Islands. “For the Falklands, for Diego, for Leo’s last one.”
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