Argentina defeats England 2-1 after another comeback; Spain awaits in World Cup final

After England lost to Argentina in the World Cup semifinals, Harry Kane told the Fox broadcast that he recognized the team was "close" to breaking through but was not there yet. England also reached the semifinals in 2018, only to lose to Croatia. It reached the quarterfinals at the 2022 tournament.

Harry Kane of England during the match against Argentina. Ulrik Pedersen / NurPhoto via Getty Images

"We had a lot of good moments in this tournament, a lot of good games, another semifinal," Kane said. "We talk about knocking on the door. We're close. We just need to find that missing piece in the final stage of the tournament."

"These tournaments take it out of you so much. Effort and pressure and mentality, and we showed a lot of that throughout the whole six, seven weeks we've been together. But yeah, we're just missing that final piece."

England manager Thomas Tuchel said at a postmatch news conference that he has “no regrets” over how the second half played out.

England’s lack of attack following its only goal in the 55th minute is already raising questions, but Tuchel downplayed those concerns.

“In the moment, no regrets,” Tuchel said. “The team gave everything, and we were very, very close.”

He added: “We played one of our better matches, maybe our best match. ... The team was tough, and we couldn’t bring it over the line.”

If you’re an England fan looking for a silver lining today, here’s a possible one ...

In 2022, the Three Lions made it all the way to the quarterfinals. This year, it was the semifinals.

Could England finally make it back to the World Cup final in 2030, then? Jude Bellingham should still be in his prime by the time of the next tournament, for what it’s worth.

But it’s tough for England to come this close and not even play in the last match.

That hasn't happened since Brazil won back-to-back titles in 1958 and 1962. Those Brazilian teams had a soccer legend named Pelé. This Argentine team has its own soccer legend, trying to match that feat, 64 years later.

Though Messi — tied with Kylian Mbappé for the lead in the Golden Boot race — didn’t score today, he was a massive factor in both of his team’s goals.

Lionel Messi celebrates Argentina's victory over England. Tom Weller / dpa / picture alliance via Getty Images

On Enzo Fernández's header that equalized the match, several defenders were busy marking Messi, who crossed the ball into the box for Fernández’s finish.

And on Lautaro Martínez's winner, Messi calmly collected the ball after an Alexis Mac Allister shot hit the right post and kept possession long enough for the play to reset before he lobbed a cross to Martínez.

After Anthony Gordon found the back of the net in the 55th minute to take a 1-0 lead, England didn't create another great scoring chance. Instead, it seemed content to drop back into a more defensive mindset. Manager Thomas Tuchel also subbed in more defensive-minded players to aid that approach.

In the end, England controlled only 36% of the possession and produced 0.53 expected goals. The English took five shots, only two on goal, and its stars were virtually nonexistent. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who had combined to score 12 goals at this World Cup, combined for one shot today.

Argentina pulled off another miracle, scoring two goals in about seven minutes, the first from Enzo Fernández in the 85th minute and the second from Lautaro Martínez in stoppage time, to beat England. Lionel Messi assisted both goals.

Argentina beats England to reach finals

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Argentina is looking to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups in more than 60 years, and it'll get the chance Sunday against Spain.

England is searching desperately for an equalizer, pressuring the Argentine end. It has only about two minutes to find one.

What is happening!

After Alexis Mac Allister hit the post, Lionel Messi collected the rebound and fired a cross into the box, which Lautaro Martínez headed into the left side of the net to give Argentina the lead.

It’s 2-1 Argentina in stoppage time.

Lautaro Martínez, in blue, scores Argentina's second goal. Dan Mullan / Getty Images

Plenty of time for either side to score before regulation play ends.

John Stones went down in the penalty box, causing the referee to stop the match. Argentina had the ball ready to attack, however, and a few players looked demonstrably upset with the stoppage when it was first whistled.

Stones is being tended to on the pitch.

Enzo Fernandez of Argentina celebrates scoring their first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match against England today. Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA / Getty Images

Argentina has made a habit this tournament of scoring late. According to the Fox broadcast, it had scored nine goals at this World Cup after the 75th minute, entering today. Make that 10 now, after Enzo Fernández tied this game in the 85th minute.

We’re all tied up!

After first taking a shot that Jordan Pickford sent out for a corner, Enzo Fernández equalized this match in the 85th minute off the ensuing set piece.

Off a pass from Lionel Messi, Fernández took a left-bending shot from outside the top of the box that Jordan Pickford couldn’t reach.

It’s 1-1.

The 6-foot-7 defender Dan Burn and 6-foot-4 defender Nico O’Reilly are coming on for England, replacing Reece James and Declan Rice. That's some serious size out there to England, perhaps to help defend these Argentine crosses into the box.

Argentina is living in the attacking third right now, lobbing cross after cross into the box. Argentina is up to 0.91 expected goals — compared to only 0.54 for England — but it will need a real one to extend this match.

Lionel Messi lofted a ball into the box, as González made a run. He headed the ball back across the net, but it bounced wide, allowing England to breathe a sigh of relief. If González had scored, it wouldn't have counted anyway. The referee ruled that Argentina was offside.

Argentina fans are getting revved up watching their team get chance after chance to score against England. After a period of reletive quiet, the fans are back on their feet.

That was nearly the equalizer! A diving header in the box from Alexis Mac Allister bounced strongly off the left post, a few inches away from tying the game.

Anthony Gordon, who scored in the 55th minute to give England a 1-0 lead, has now been subbed out in favor of Ezri Konsa in the 72nd minute.

The final play before the hydration break was nearly a goal.

Following a cross from Lionel Messi, England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford stonewalled a header from Nico González from the center of the penalty box, keeping England in front 1-0.

We’re now at the second-half hydration break, as Argentina has turned up its desperation to score.

Argentina sent a header in toward the England net, but Stones flew it to head the ball out of harm's way. Both teams are attacking the net with more urgency, especially since England scored to take the lead.

An offensive reinforcement for Argentina, as the winger González comes in for for midfielder Leandro Paredes.

A potential goal-saving tackle by Spence, who unleashed a perfectly timed slide tackle in the box to prevent a free shot at the net for Giuliano Simeone.

In the 55th minute, Harry Kane started a breakout for England with a brilliant pass downfield. Morgan Rogers followed that with a brilliant cross into the box, where Anthony Gordon finished with a goal, his first career World Cup score.

That was England's second shot of the game, and its first on goal, and it breaks our scoreless tie. England leads 1-0.

Romero was carded for literally wrapping up Jude Bellingham. Both of Argentina’s center backs now have yellow cards.

After being shotless for much of the first half, Argentina recorded two shots in the first three minutes of the second, including the game’s first shot on goal by Julián Álvarez.

This is the first World Cup game since 1966 that did not have a shot recorded in the first 30 minutes of play, according to the Fox broadcast. We said "since 1966," because that's the farthest back that statisticians have been able to keep reliable records.

It’s been a match for foul lovers so far. Let’s see if either side can figure out a way to attack in the second half.

Jude Bellingham had a few moments where he seemed to building momentum, only to find himself swarmed by Argentine defenders.

Bellingham and Harry Kane have each scored six goals at this World Cup. But in the first half, Bellingham recorded 23 touches and Kane 13. Neither recorded a single shot, let alone a shot on goal.

If you're a fan of fouls, this has been the game for you. Lots of physical play through the first 45 minutes, as both teams have combined to commit 19 fouls. There have been more scuffles than combined shots on goal (zero).

Neither teams stars have really had room to work, either. Lionel Messi was sent to the ground on one particularly hard tackle, which resulted in a yellow card for England's Elliot Anderson.

Drums from the England end, clanging of metal from the Argentine end. But most of the crowd is hushed.

Martínez was hanging on to Morgan Rogers in the middle of the field trying to prevent a run, and he was carded for the infraction.

In the 36th minute, England took another free kick from the left side, outside the box, this closer than the last. England's Reece James sent the ball into the box, but Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez punched the ball away and Argentina eventually cleared it.

Elliot Anderson was given a yellow card after fouling Messi in the middle of a run toward the attacking third. Argentina was upset with the foul, hoping to continue the play via the advantage rule.

The teams engaged in some light shoving after the foul, as the physical nature of this match is only intensifying.

Jude Bellingham made a spirited run, dribbling upfield when he was fouled by Argentina, setting up a free kick from the left side several yards outside the box. Declan Rice sent the ball into the box, toward the far side of the net. John Stones leapt and headed the ball wide of the net.

That was our first shot of the game, and it came in the 33rd minute.

We’re still stuck in a back-alley fight, as the teams have combined for 14 fouls but only one shot through the first 35 minutes.

Argentina came out hot out of the hydration break, but Lionel Messi wasn’t ready for a ball headed in his direction near the top of the box, and he deflected it out of bounds before Argentina could manufacture a shot.

That's not "shots on goal." That's shots, period. Neither team has been recorded a single shot. Here's hoping for more action during the final three-quarters of the game.

It’s been a physical match so far. Both sides are stuck on 0.00 expected goals while they’ve combined for 10 fouls. Perhaps the break will inspire some more action, but what this game has lacked in offense it has made up for in tension.

I'm sitting with mostly Argentine fans and during England's national anthem they were chanting. In turn, England supporters booed during the Argentine anthem.

You can feel that tension even before kickoff.

Robin Alam / ISI Photos via Getty Images

Just now, Argentina's Enzo Fernández made another physical play on England's Elliot Anderson, after the two were involved in a physical tackle about 10 minutes prior. As Fernández tried to get up, Anderson appeared to been holding him down in a bit of gamesmanship. Lots of battling for position and hard fouls early on. There were seven fouls committed between the two teams in about the first 12 minutes of game action.

Argentina's Enzo Fernandez and England's Elliot Anderson battle for the ball. Martin Rickett / PA Images via Getty Images

Anthony Gordon was making a run across the field into the center of the box, threatening to put the game’s first shot on goal. But he was quickly engulfed by four Argentina defenders, who won the ball and started a counterattack.

These teams are clearly still feeling each other out, quite literally considering how physical the early play has been. We’re still waiting on a real offensive attack from either side.

In the third minute, a few Argentine players held up their hands, pleading with the referee to call a foul. Moments later, Argentina's Enzo Fernández committed a hard tackle against England's Elliot Anderson, which briefly caused play to stop as players from both teams sized each other up.

This is clearly a bitter rivalry, and we're seeing it already.

Lionel Messi of Argentina in action against Elliot Anderson of England. Evrim Aydin / Anadolu via Getty Images

Argentina swapped its iconic white-and-blue striped uniforms for its navy blue kit today, and there’s a specific reason why.

Argentina wore the dark blue uniforms in two iconic World Cup wins over England: During the 1998 win in penalties in the quarterfinals, as well as during the infamous “Hand of God” match in the 1986 quarterfinals.

“I would have done the same if there was any superstition combined with it,” England manager Thomas Tuchel told reporters on Tuesday. “So credit to them. I was not ​aware of that.”

After cruising through the group stage, Argentina seemed like an easy bet to make it to the semifinals. But its path has not been so clean and easy. In the round of 32, Argentina survived a scare from Cape Verde (and its goalkeeper Vozinha) to win 3-2 in extra time.

In the round of 16, Egypt seemed on the verge of upsetting Argentina, as it took a 2-0 lead in the second half. The lead might've been 3-0, but Egypt had a goal called back due to a VAR review. Then Argentina scored three goals in about 15 minutes to escape again with a 3-2 win. Afterward, Egypt complained in the media about Argentina receiving preferential treatment.

Argentina's luck continued in the quarterfinals. It was tied 1-1 with Switzerland in the 72nd minute when Switzerland's Breel Embolo picked up a yellow card for flopping. The announcers questioned the call, especially since it was his Embolo's second yellow of the match, which meant he'd be sent off. He appeared to leave the field in tears and had to be consoled.

Playing the rest of the game with a man-advantage, Argentina went on to win 3-1 in extra time. Does that mean Argentina is the team of destiny? Or will its luck run out at some point? Maybe it'll find out today, in the semifinals against England.

The blockbuster matchup that will decide who plays Spain in the World Cup final is underway!

For the Three Lions:

For La Albiceleste:

The 23-year-old midfielder had a solid enough start to this World Cup, recording two goals and an assist in the group stage. But as England advanced in the tournament, Bellingham continued to elevate his game.

In the round of 16, he scored two crucial first-half goals in a 3-2 win over Mexico, in a game played in Mexico City in front of a raucous crowd. Then in the quarterfinals, he scored both goals in a 2-1 England win over Norway.

After games, English fans have a tradition of serenading Bellingham with a rendition of the Beatles' song “Hey Jude.” If England wins it all, for the first time since 1966, Bellingham may never have to buy a pint in London again.

This World Cup, the race for the Golden Boot has seemingly centered around some of the sport's bold-faced names: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland. But England's Harry Kane has been scoring at a prolific pace, too.

In six games this tournament, Kane has scored six goals — the same amount he scored in 2018, when he won the Golden Boot, as England reached the semifinals. (His teammate Jude Bellingham has also recorded six goals at this World Cup, after a flurry of scoring in the knockout rounds.)

Earlier this tournament, Kane became England's all-time leader in men's World Cup goals, passing Gary Lineker, who held the record with 10. Kane is up to 14 now, and Bellingham sits in third with seven career World Cup goals. The 32-year-old Kane holds the record for now (and might add to it today), but the 23-year-old Bellingham might have time on his side.

Fans out and about in Atlanta are ready for Argentina vs. England in the World Cup semifinal.

This is the first time that an all-U.S. officiating crew has worked a World Cup semifinal, according to U.S. Soccer.

The referees — Ismail Elfath, Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins — will be working their fourth match of this tournament together. They previously worked together during three matches of the 2022 World Cup.

Drew Dinsick and Jay Croucher assess how England stacks up against a "very deep" Argentina squad, where it may not have "a lot left in the tank" on a short turnaround.

Although Argentine superstar Lionel Messi assisted on the first goal of Argentina's quarterfinal win over Switzerland, he ultimately did not score himself, breaking his nine-match scoring streak in World Cup competitions.

Still, the match was another indication of just how valuable Messi remains at 39 years old. In his last eight knockout matches in the World Cup — when the stakes are the highest — Messi has racked up seven goals and six assists.

Jude Bellingham spoke after the match where England beat Norway to advance to the World Cup semifinals, describing how he deals with pressure and the togetherness of the England team.

Fans of England and Argentina are ready to “suffer” together in Atlanta today, as this World Cup semifinal between two giants of the game is basically as big as it gets.

The desperation to win is clear for the supporters and players. Both teams haven’t been great at this tournament, but they’re in the final four as they’ve similarly found a way to win.

Everyone knows how big this is. Both countries live for soccer. This is a huge rivalry.

A World Cup semifinal. Golden generations colliding. Iconic footballing nations. Legends leading the way in Harry Kane and Lionel Messi. Something must give in Atlanta.

After Argentina's quarterfinal victory against Switzerland to set up a semifinal showdown against England, a journalist asked Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni about his message to his team considering its "rivalry" with England.

“The message is this is a football game," Scaloni said. "That's what I can say. This is a football game and we will be playing against a very tough opponent. They have an excellent coach, and this is a football game, and that’s all.”

But that's not all to those who see this match as a proxy fight between two nations with a testy relationship.

England coach Thomas Tuchel's assessment that his team was "lucky" to beat Norway during a "sloppy" quarterfinal victory did not sit well with star player Jude Bellingham.

Tuchel's comments came after the match to ITV Sport. Bellingham, asked minutes later about his coach's thoughts, started with "Yeah, well, whatever."

Later after the match, Bellingham told reporters that "maybe (Tuchel) doesn’t know what it’s like to play in these types of conditions. ... That's not an easy team to play against."

Joe Prince-Wright, Andy Edwards and Nick Mendola preview the England vs. Argentina semifinal, breaking down the biggest tactical battles and how Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane match up against Lionel Messi and Argentina.