New York, New York, United States | July 17, 2026
Argentina vs England produced a dramatic FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal as defending champions Argentina fought back from a goal down to defeat England 2-1, securing a place in the tournament final for the second consecutive edition.
Argentina will now face Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final after Spain defeated France in the other semifinal. The reigning world champions are now just one victory away from successfully defending their World Cup title.
England, meanwhile, saw their title hopes come to an end and will face France in the third-place playoff.
Messi Leads Argentina’s Comeback
Although Lionel Messi did not score, the Argentine captain once again proved why he remains one of world football’s greatest players.
Messi created both Argentine goals with his trademark vision and creativity, inspiring his team during the closing stages of the match.
Following the final whistle, Messi celebrated passionately with his teammates as Argentina secured another memorable World Cup victory.
England Took the Lead
After a tightly contested and goalless first half, England broke the deadlock in the 55th minute.
Morgan Rogers delivered an excellent pass into the penalty area, where Anthony Gordon finished clinically to beat the Argentine goalkeeper and hand England a 1-0 advantage.
The goal appeared to put England in control as Gareth Southgate’s side continued to create dangerous attacking opportunities.
Harry Kane nearly doubled England’s lead in the 66th minute, but Argentina’s goalkeeper produced an excellent save to keep his team in the match.
Argentina Responds in Style
Argentina refused to surrender.
The equalizer arrived through Enzo Fernandez, who converted after sustained Argentine pressure with another important contribution from Messi in the build-up.
The defending champions continued pushing forward and were rewarded deep into stoppage time.
Substitute striker Lautaro Martinez scored the dramatic winning goal during injury time, completing an outstanding comeback and sending Argentina into another FIFA World Cup final.
Argentina successfully defended their narrow lead during the closing minutes to secure a famous victory.
Physical Battle Throughout the Match
The semifinal was played with remarkable intensity from the opening whistle.
Only minutes into the match, players from both teams became involved in heated confrontations following a challenge by Enzo Fernandez.
The referee quickly intervened to separate the players, but the physical nature of the contest continued throughout both halves.
Several strong tackles and aggressive challenges reflected the importance of the occasion as two football powerhouses battled for a place in the final.
Yellow Cards in the First Half
The referee issued two yellow cards before halftime.
England midfielder Elliot Anderson received a booking in the 37th minute after pushing Lionel Messi.
A few minutes later, Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez was shown a yellow card after pulling the shirt of Morgan Rogers during another physical challenge.
First Half Ended Goalless
Despite numerous opportunities, neither side managed to find the net during the opening 45 minutes.
England created several dangerous chances:
- Declan Rice came close from a corner.
- John Stones narrowly missed with a free kick.
- Reece James also threatened before halftime.
Argentina responded with opportunities of its own.
Lionel Messi nearly opened the scoring from a corner, while Enzo Fernandez fired a powerful effort just wide of the post.
The defensive discipline shown by both teams ensured the first half finished 0-0.
Second Half Delivered High Drama
Argentina started the second half aggressively.
Julian Alvarez tested the England goalkeeper early before Messi created another dangerous opportunity from a corner kick.
England, however, struck first through Anthony Gordon.
After falling behind, Argentina increased the tempo significantly.
Substitute Nico Gonzalez added fresh energy to the attack, while Messi repeatedly delivered dangerous set-pieces that stretched England’s defense.
Eventually, Argentina’s sustained pressure paid off with Enzo Fernandez’s equalizer before Lautaro Martinez completed the comeback with a decisive stoppage-time goal.
Argentina Sets Up Final Against Spain
With the victory, Argentina advances to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final, where it will meet Spain in one of the tournament’s most anticipated matches.
The defending champions now have an opportunity to retain the World Cup trophy and further cement their place among football’s greatest international teams.
Spain, meanwhile, enters the final after defeating France 2-0 in the first semifinal.
Football fans around the world can now look forward to a blockbuster showdown between two of the sport’s strongest national teams.
Match Summary
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Semifinal
Argentina 2-1 England
Goals
- Anthony Gordon (England) – 55′
- Enzo Fernandez (Argentina)
- Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, Injury Time)
Assists
- Lionel Messi – 2
Yellow Cards
- Elliot Anderson (England)
- Lisandro Martinez (Argentina)
- Cristian Romero (Argentina)
