England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina is already one of the most charged fixtures of the tournament, but one English footballer has found herself at the centre of a very personal dilemma before kick-off.
Marcos Senesi’s English girlfriend will be supporting him and Argentina when they face England tomorrow night
The couple met while playing for AFC Bournemouth together – Senesi for the men and Bowers for the women
Kelci-Rose Bowers, the 22-year-old professional footballer and partner of Argentina defender Marcos Senesi, has explained why she will be cheering for Argentina when the reigning champions face England in Atlanta for a place in the World Cup final.
For most Three Lions supporters, Wednesday night is about history, heartbreak and the chance to reach a first World Cup final since 1966. For Bowers, however, the occasion is complicated by love, loyalty and the fact that her boyfriend is part of Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina squad.
Bowers admitted on TikTok that the situation is unusual and controversial, especially because she is English and proud of her country. But she said her support for Senesi comes naturally, arguing that anyone in a relationship would want to back their partner on the biggest stage of his career.
She said she was proud of England for reaching the semi-final, but added that she had spent the tournament travelling with the Argentina group, embracing the culture and wearing the Argentina shirt while supporting Senesi. Her message was simple: she wants to respect both teams, enjoy the match and cheer on the person closest to her.
Bowers has been in the stands sporting her ‘Senesi 2’ Argentina shirt throughout the tournament
The story has attracted attention because the fixture itself carries enormous sporting and historical weight. England and Argentina have a rivalry shaped by famous World Cup meetings, Diego Maradona’s infamous 1986 ‘Hand of God’ goal and wider political tension between the two nations. This year’s semi-final has already been surrounded by intense security planning and heated debate among supporters.
Against that backdrop, Bowers’ decision to support Argentina has inevitably divided opinion online. Some fans have joked that she is turning her back on England at the worst possible moment, while others have defended her right to support her partner during a once-in-a-lifetime tournament.
Senesi’s own World Cup journey has added another layer to the story. The defender received a late call-up from Argentina after an injury opened the door, and Bowers captured the emotional moment while the couple were on holiday in Ibiza. Their reaction, full of shock and celebration, quickly became part of the human story behind Argentina’s campaign.
Senesi has featured regularly on Bowers’ Instagram since the couple first sparked up a romance in the summer of 2024
The 29-year-old made his World Cup debut in Argentina’s 3-1 group-stage win over Jordan, playing the full 90 minutes. Now, with a semi-final against England looming, he could be involved in the biggest match of his career before beginning a new chapter in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur.
Bowers and Senesi are believed to have started dating in 2024 after meeting at AFC Bournemouth, where she played for the women’s team and he represented the men’s side. Bowers had joined Bournemouth on loan from Portsmouth, and her signing announcement went viral after attracting millions of views online.
Since then, she has built a strong public profile as both a footballer and model, with more than 150,000 followers on Instagram. Throughout the World Cup, she has shared glimpses of life around the tournament and has been seen supporting Senesi in an Argentina shirt bearing his name and number.
The semi-final now places her in an awkward but fascinating position: an Englishwoman watching England’s biggest World Cup night in decades while emotionally invested in the opposition dugout. Yet Bowers has insisted there is no bad faith in her stance. She is not attacking England or dismissing the achievement of Thomas Tuchel’s squad. She is simply standing behind her partner.
That has made the story one of the more unusual subplots of the England-Argentina build-up. While much of the attention will fall on Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and the tactical battle between the two teams, Bowers and Senesi have become a reminder that the World Cup is also full of personal loyalties that do not always fit neatly with national identity.
For England supporters, the hope is obvious: that Bellingham, Kane and company end Argentina’s title defence and deliver a final appearance the country has waited six decades to see. For Bowers, the night will be far more emotional and conflicted.
Whatever happens in Atlanta, her explanation has added another talking point to a semi-final already overflowing with drama. England against Argentina was never going to need extra spice, but this personal football love story has given the build-up one more unexpected twist.
