Clashes erupted in Atlanta on Saturday night after England were beaten by Argentina in their semi-final showdown.
Trouble broke out outside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Georgia shortly after the final whistle sealed a 2-1 defeat for the Three Lions against Lionel Messi’s side.
Police moved in to restore order and made several arrests, with images from the scene showing a number of England supporters being detained by armed officers.
The atmosphere had already turned heated inside the ground when Argentina supporters displayed a banner claiming the Falkland Islands belong to the South American country.
The Falklands conflict had been a prominent flashpoint in the build-up to the semi-final, with opposing chants about the war heard in fan zones across the city.
As tens of thousands of supporters poured out of the stadium after the match, arguments spilled onto nearby streets and, in some cases, escalated into violence.
Some England fans condemned the conduct of Argentina supporters as “absolutely disgusting” and warned that the situation would “kick off, 100 per cent”.
Police officers intervene and speak to fans in Atlanta as they try to keep the peace following Argentina’s semi-final victory
Police officers detain an England fan outside the Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
A fan in an England shirt is arrested by armed police following clashes after the Three Lions’ semi-final loss to Argentina
Police officers detain an Argentina fan outside the Atlanta Stadium as tensions flared on the streets of the city
Fans are arrested in Atlanta by armed police looking to separate the two sides
A police officer breaks up an argument between Argentina and England fans outside the Atlanta stadium
US police stand guard in Atlanta as Argentina fans gather at the fan festival to celebrate
The Atlanta Police Department deployed extra resources around the city, with officers lining the streets outside bars near the stadium after the crunch clash.
Argentina and England fans outside bars near the stadium exchanged words – much of it Falklands related.
American police officers with large guns were seen placing both England and Argentina fans in handcuffs.
One England fan told the Daily Mail: ‘Obviously [we] were upset about the game, walking out the stadium, minding our own business.
‘Some guy, Argentina fan, comes up waving his flag, shoves it in our face, winding us up. You know obviously someone’s going to retaliate, right? But luckily we didn’t retaliate but there’s a lot of animosity.
‘When Argentina scored, an Argentinian guy next to me took his shirt off, waving it, slapping it in my face, absolutely disgusting.
‘Disgusting behaviour from the Argentinian fans, absolutely disgusting.
‘Tonight there’s not enough cops to police all of this. I’m telling you right now it’s going to kick off later in bars and stuff for sure, 100 per cent.’
Police in London escort an Argentinian fan away from England supporters following the final whistle
England fans gather in London to commiserate after their side’s semi-final loss
A police officer attempts to prevent a fan scaling a traffic light near Leicester Square, central London
In Bournemouth, police were seen speaking with England fans as they poured out of pubs after the game
A line of police officers keeps fans contained following England’s semi-final defeat to Argentina
Back in the UK, police forces are also bracing for possible unrest between rival groups of fans.
In London, police were seen attempting to separate rival groups of fans to prevent fights breaking out.
Thousands flocked into the streets of the city centre from nearby pubs and bars, with video footage showing carnage at famous landmarks such as Piccadilly Circus.
Officers reportedly had to step in and rescue one Argentina fan from the area after he was mobbed by British supporters.
An initially gutsy performance from the Three Lions saw Anthony Gordon put the side one ahead at 55 minutes, but substitutions to send England into a defensive set-up would heartbreakingly backfire.
England were just less than six minutes away from their first World Cup final for 60 years when Enzo Fernandez scored the equaliser that denied them.
This was followed two minutes into injury time by a header from Lautaro Martinez, who secured Argentina’s place in Sunday night’s final against Spain in New York.
It was England’s fourth-ever appearance in the final four of a World Cup, making this the most high-stakes match since 1966.
But in an all too familiar outcome, supporters’ hopes were dashed once again.
