Full Time: England 1-2 Argentina
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90’+2′ Lautaro Martinez
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85′ Fernandez
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55′ Gordon scores
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England will look to move one step closer to ending six decades of World Cup disappointment when they face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in a blockbuster 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal, News.Az reports.
The winner of Wednesday’s clash in Atlanta will advance to Sunday’s final, where Spain are waiting after securing their place in the championship match.
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Both teams have endured demanding paths to the last four. England battled through a difficult knockout campaign, surviving a tense encounter in Mexico City before edging past Norway in the quarterfinals.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have relied heavily on captain Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who have scored all but one of England’s goals during the tournament.
Argentina enjoyed a smoother group-stage campaign but faced much tougher opposition in the knockout rounds. The reigning world champions were pushed by Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland before booking their place in the semifinals.
Much of Argentina’s success has been driven by Lionel Messi, who enters the match as the tournament’s joint-leading scorer with eight goals. The Argentine captain holds a two-goal advantage over Kane in the race for the Golden Boot.
The semifinal also revives one of international football’s fiercest rivalries. England and Argentina have produced several memorable World Cup encounters over the decades, with political tensions and controversial incidents adding extra intensity whenever the two nations meet.
Despite the rivalry’s rich history, the sides have not faced each other at a World Cup since 2002. That match ended in a 1-0 victory for England after David Beckham converted a penalty, redeeming himself four years after his infamous red card against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.
With a place in the World Cup final on the line, another memorable chapter is set to be written as Kane’s England attempt to overcome Messi’s Argentina in one of the tournament’s most anticipated matches.
