Argentina beat England 2-1 in FIFA WC 2026 semi-final, face Spain in final
Synopsis
Argentina were staring at elimination before Enzo Fernandez's thunderbolt and a Lautaro Martinez header in the third minute of injury time turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win over England. With six semi-final wins from six and Messi rewriting age records at 39, Scaloni's holders are 90 minutes away from back-to-back World Cup titles against Spain.
Key Takeaways
Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final in Atlanta on 16 July .
Enzo Fernandez equalised with a strike from outside the box; Lautaro Martinez headed the winner in the 3rd minute of injury time .
Gordon had given England the lead with a controlled finish from Morgan Rogers' cross.
Lionel Messi , aged 39 years and 21 days , became the oldest outfield player in World Cup semi-final history.
Argentina have now won all six of their World Cup semi-finals and will face Spain in the final at New York New Jersey on Sunday.
England have now lost three World Cup semi-finals ( 1990, 2018, 2026 ), with their only final appearance still from 1966 .
Argentina mounted a breathtaking late comeback to defeat England 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final at Atlanta on 16 July, booking a place in Sunday's final against Spain at New York New Jersey. Goals from Enzo Fernandez and a stoppage-time header from Lautaro Martinez overturned an England lead and extended Argentina's perfect World Cup semi-final record to six wins from six.
How the Match Unfolded
The contest was tightly wound from the first whistle, with neither side mustering a shot on goal until the 33rd minute, when John Stones nodded wide from a Declan Rice free-kick. Argentina's Julian Alvarez tested Jordan Pickford at his near post early in the second half, but it was England who broke the deadlock.
Morgan Rogers — one of three players restored to Thomas Tuchel's starting XI — delivered a low cross from the right that Gordon steered into the corner past Emiliano Martinez, getting in front of Nahuel Molina at the back post. England appeared on course for a historic result, sitting deep as Argentine pressure mounted.
Argentina's Fightback
The equaliser arrived through a short-corner routine: Lionel Messi squared to Fernandez, who unleashed a fierce strike from outside the box that flew past Pickford's right hand. Before that, substitute Nico Gonzalez had been denied by Pickford, while Alexis Mac Allister headed against the post.
The winner came deep in added time. Mac Allister's shot struck the woodwork again, but Messi recycled possession and delivered a right-foot cross that substitute Martinez headed home at the far post in the third minute of injury time. The turnaround was complete.
Messi Makes History
Aged 39 years and 21 days, Messi became the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup semi-final, surpassing the previous record jointly held by Fritz Walter and Gunnar Gren — both aged 37 years and 236 days when they faced each other for West Germany and Sweden respectively in 1958.
Records and Historical Context
Argentina have now joined an exclusive group of six nations to win the World Cup and reach the final in the subsequent edition. The others are Italy (1934, 1938), Brazil (1958, 1962), Argentina (1986, 1990), Brazil (1994, 1998), and France (2018, 2022). For England, the defeat means three World Cup semi-final exits — in 1990, 2018, and now 2026 — with their only final appearance still dating back to 1966.
What Comes Next
Lionel Scaloni's side will face Spain in Sunday's final at New York New Jersey, with Argentina chasing back-to-back World Cup titles. England, meanwhile, must regroup after falling at the penultimate hurdle for the third time in 36 years.
Point of View
By contrast, have turned late drama into a trademark: this is the third consecutive World Cup in which they have won a knockout game in added time or extra time. The more striking subplot is Messi at 39, not merely present but decisive — setting up both goals after the hour mark. Spain, who have already beaten a formidable field to reach the final, will know that Argentina with momentum and Messi in this form is the most dangerous version of this team.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final between Argentina and England?
Argentina won 2-1, coming from behind with goals from Enzo Fernandez and a stoppage-time header from Lautaro Martinez. England had taken the lead through Gordon in the second half.
Who will Argentina face in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final?
Argentina will face Spain in Sunday's final at New York New Jersey. It is Argentina's bid to win back-to-back World Cup titles after their 2022 triumph.
What record did Lionel Messi set in the semi-final?
Messi, aged 39 years and 21 days, became the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup semi-final, surpassing the previous record jointly held by Fritz Walter and Gunnar Gren, who were both 37 years and 236 days old in 1958.
How many World Cup semi-finals have England lost?
England have now lost three World Cup semi-finals — in 1990, 2018, and 2026. Their only World Cup final appearance remains the 1966 edition, which they won on home soil.
What is Argentina's World Cup semi-final record?
Argentina have now won all six of their World Cup semi-finals, making them the most successful nation at this stage of the tournament.
