Argentina Fight Back to Beat England, Set Up World Cup Final Against Spain
- Argentina defeat England 2-1 with two late goals in a thrilling semifinal.
- Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez score as Lionel Messi provides two assists.
- England led through Anthony Gordon before Argentina’s dramatic comeback.
- Argentina will face Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.
Defending champions Argentina booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final after producing a dramatic late comeback to defeat England 2-1 in an unforgettable semifinal on Wednesday.
England looked on course for a famous victory after taking the lead in the 55th minute. Anthony Gordon finished from close range after a dangerous attacking move, giving the Three Lions a 1-0 advantage and putting Argentina under pressure.
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The South American side responded with relentless attacking football as they searched for an equaliser. Their persistence paid off in the 85th minute when midfielder Enzo Fernández unleashed a powerful strike from outside the penalty area that flew into the net, bringing Argentina level at 1-1.
With extra time looming, Argentina found one final breakthrough deep into stoppage time. Lionel Messi delivered a perfectly weighted cross into the box, where Lautaro Martínez rose above the defenders to head home the winning goal, sparking wild celebrations among Argentine players and fans.
Messi played a decisive role throughout the match, providing assists for both of Argentina’s goals as the reigning champions completed another remarkable comeback in their title defence.
The victory continues Argentina’s dramatic knockout-stage journey. They needed extra time to overcome Cape Verde in the Round of 32, recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Egypt in the Round of 16, defeated Switzerland in the quarterfinals, and have now eliminated England to reach a second consecutive World Cup final.
Argentina will now face Spain in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 final after the European side defeated France 2-0 in the first semifinal. The showdown will see the reigning champions attempt to retain the World Cup trophy, while Spain chase their second world title.
| Match Summary | Match Summary |
|---|---|
| Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026 – Semifinal |
| Result | Argentina 2-1 England |
| Venue | Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta |
| England Goalscorer | Anthony Gordon (55′) |
| Argentina Goalscorers | Enzo Fernández (85′), Lautaro Martínez (90+’) |
| Assists | Lionel Messi (2) |
| Man of the Match | Lionel Messi |
| Possession | Argentina dominated late stages |
| Next Match | Argentina vs Spain – FIFA World Cup 2026 Final |
| Third-Place Playoff | England vs France |
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