Argentina beats England 2-1 to reach World Cup 2026 final
In the World Cup 2026 semifinal held at Atlanta’s Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, Argentina overturned an early 1‑0 deficit to defeat England 2‑1 after extra time. England’s Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 55th minute. Argentina equalised in the 85th minute when Enzo Fernández headed home a Lionel Messi cross, and Lautaro Martínez completed the comeback with a headed goal in stoppage time (90+2). The victory sends Argentina to the final on 19 July, where they will meet Spain.
The match reignited historic rivalries: Argentine supporters sang chants referencing the Falklands (Malvinas) war, and players displayed banners asserting “Las Malvinas son argentinas”. Messi’s involvement, the emotional reactions of players such as Martínez, and the tactical decisions of coach Lionel Scaloni were widely highlighted. Media across Argentina, the United Kingdom and internationally reported on the dramatic turnaround, the political overtones, and the fan‑driven superstitions that surrounded the game.