Argentina defeats England in World Cup semifinal with late goals

By Arjun Sharma — 15 July 2026 — 3 min read

Argentina secured a victory over England in a World Cup semifinal match held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game, which saw Argentina trailing for much of the match, was decided by two late goals, including a game-winner in stoppage time.

The first half of the semifinal was marked by intense exchanges and contested fouls, with neither team managing to score. The atmosphere was described as tense, as the reigning world champions faced a top-10 ranked team for the first time in the tournament. Early in the match, Jude Bellingham was fouled by Leandro Paredes. Shortly after, Lionel Messi was brought down by an Elliott Anderson challenge, which led to a retaliatory foul from Enzo Fernández.

England earned a free kick in the seventh minute after Anderson was fouled by Giuliano Simeone, but they were unable to convert the opportunity. Throughout the first half, England maintained possession in the Argentinian half and built attacks on the left flank, yet failed to register any shots on goal. Heated interactions continued between Anderson and Fernández in the 13th minute, with Morgan Rogers and Paredes also becoming involved. Despite the intensity, no cards were issued during these early confrontations.

Both teams received one card each in the first half. Anderson was booked in the 38th minute for a challenge on Messi, which led to a scuffle involving players from both sides. Soon after, in the 42nd minute, Argentina‘s Martinez received a booking for pulling back Rogers, a decision he protested before play resumed. In terms of fouls, England committed seven, while Argentina had 12 in the first half. Possession statistics showed England with 44 percent and Argentina with 56 percent.

Second-half turnaround for Argentina

The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum. England had led the match 1-0 for the majority of the game. However, Argentina mounted a comeback in the final minutes. Enzo Fernández scored in the 85th minute, firing the ball from beyond the box to level the score for the defending champions.

The decisive goal came during stoppage time when Lautaro Martínez scored the game-winning goal. This goal secured Argentina‘s place in the final. Notably, Lionel Messi provided an assist on one of Argentina‘s goals, marking his first time playing against England in his career.

Historical context and upcoming final

The two national teams share a significant history in the World Cup. Argentina famously won the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals match, which is remembered for Diego Maradona‘s ‘Hand of God’ play. In the 1998 World Cup, David Beckham received a red card before Argentina ultimately won in a penalty shootout.

In the current tournament, Argentina won Group J, and Messi became the all-time leading scorer in the World Cup. England won Group L, subsequently defeating Mexico at Estadio Azteca and then eliminating Erling Haaland and Norway. Argentina holds three World Cup titles, while England won the tournament in 1966 on home soil.

The winner of this semifinal match will advance to face Spain in the World Cup final. The final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Source: eu.usatoday.com

Arjun Sharma

Sports Reporter