England and Argentina battle for 2026 World Cup final spot
The semifinal winner in Atlanta will face Spain in the final, with Messi already on eight goals in the tournament.
England and Argentina will meet in a 2026 World Cup semifinal in Atlanta early Thursday local time, with a place in the final against Spain at stake. The match renews one of the tournament’s most heated rivalries, with a historical backdrop that reaches beyond football.
England reached the last four after eliminating Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico and Norway. Jude Bellingham stood out with two goals in the comeback against Norway, while Harry Kane and Bellingham have combined for 12 of England’s 13 goals in the tournament.
Argentina advanced after beating Tanjung Verde, Egypt and Swiss. Lionel Messi has scored eight goals, while Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring against Swiss. The meeting also revives memories of classic clashes between the teams, including the shadow of the Malvinas War, which once weighed on relations between England and Argentina at the 1982 World Cup.