Argentina defeats England 2-1 to reach World Cup final
Argentina overturned a 1‑0 deficit to beat England 2‑1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi‑final at the Mercedes‑Benz Stadium in Atlanta on 15 July. England took the lead in the 55th minute when Anthony Gordon finished a Morgan Rogers cross. Argentina equalised in the 85th minute after Lionel Messi’s corner found Enzo Fernández, whose long‑range strike beat Jordan Pickford. Two minutes of stoppage time later Lautaro Martínez headed home a Messi cross to clinch the win.
Messi recorded two assists, covered 5.2 miles and completed nine dribbles – more than any other player in the tournament. The victory sends Argentina to a final against European champions Spain at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, giving the South Americans a chance to become the first nation to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962. Police in Atlanta had to separate Argentine and English supporters after the match to prevent clashes.
The result reignites the historic rivalry between the two nations and keeps Argentina on track for a possible back‑to‑back title, while England’s campaign ends with a third‑place playoff.