Argentina beat England to set up FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Spain
Three Lions to face France in third-place play-off
ATLANTA STADIUM, Georgia – Argentina produced a stunning late comeback to defeat England 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final on Wednesday, booking a place in the final against Spain and ending the Three Lions' dream of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966.
Played before a crowd of 68,239 at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia, the contest appeared to be heading England's way after Anthony Gordon fired Thomas Tuchel's side into the lead early in the second half. However, the defending champions struck twice in the closing stages through Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez to snatch victory and continue their pursuit of back-to-back World Cup titles.
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— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) July 15, 2026
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England will now take on France in Saturday's third-place play-off after Didier Deschamps' side lost 2-0 to Spain in the other semi-final.
Late drama
England made the breakthrough in the 55th minute when Morgan Rogers, making only his second start of the tournament, set up Anthony Gordon to put the Three Lions ahead.
For much of the second half, Tuchel's men looked on course for one of the nation's most significant victories in decades. Argentina, however, showed the resilience that has defined their title defence throughout the tournament.
With five minutes remaining, Enzo Fernández equalised to breathe life into the South American side's hopes before Lionel Messi produced another decisive moment. Deep into stoppage time, the Argentina captain delivered a cross that Lautaro Martínez headed home in the 92nd minute to complete a remarkable turnaround.
Messi magic
Messi once again proved decisive on football's biggest stage, providing the assist for the winning goal as Argentina reached a second successive World Cup final.
The 39-year-old continues to lead the Golden Boot race with eight goals, while also adding four assists during the tournament. His influence has been central to Argentina's campaign, which has seen Lionel Scaloni's side become the tournament's highest-scoring team with 19 goals.
Argentina's route to the final included victories over Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and now England after topping Group J ahead of Austria, Algeria and Jordan.
England's effort
England's campaign ends in heartbreaking fashion after an impressive run under Tuchel. The Three Lions advanced from Group L before overcoming DR Congo, Mexico and Norway in the knockout rounds, with comeback victories highlighting their resilience.
Tuchel had named an adventurous starting line-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, handing Morgan Rogers a rare start on the right wing alongside Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and captain Harry Kane. Jordan Henderson missed the semi-final with a broken wrist, while Jarell Quansah was suspended.
Despite the defeat, Kane and Bellingham finish the semi-finals level on six goals each, making England the first nation in World Cup history to have two players score at least six goals in the same tournament.
Argentina vs England
The semi-final added another memorable chapter to one of international football's greatest rivalries. It was the first World Cup meeting between Argentina and England since 2002 and the latest instalment in a fixture that has produced iconic moments over the decades.
England won the first World Cup meeting in 1966 before Argentina claimed the famous 1986 quarter-final featuring Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" and "Goal of the Century". Argentina also advanced on penalties after a 2-2 draw in 1998, while England secured a 1-0 victory in the group stage in 2002.
The latest encounter now joins that storied history after Argentina overturned a one-goal deficit in the final minutes to keep their title defence alive.
World Cup Final
Argentina will face Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with the defending champions aiming to become only the third nation to win consecutive men's World Cups after Italy and Brazil.
England, meanwhile, will take on France in the third-place play-off on Saturday, bringing the curtain down on a campaign that revived hopes of ending the country's 60-year wait for another World Cup triumph.