England-Argentina World Cup Semifinal Reignites Painful Historic Rivalry
2026 FIFA World Cup will see two bitter rivals face off today in what is widely expected to be one of the most emotionally charged matches of the tournament. The contest will see Lionel Messi, considered by many to be one of the best soccer players in the world, play against England for the first time in his long and storied career. He will face England’s all-time top goal scorer Harry Kane, and one of the stars of the tournament, Jude Bellingham.
Previous matches between the two countries have produced some of the sport’s most iconic moments. But this rivalry goes well beyond the soccer field.
The Falklands War
Diplomatic relations between England and Argentina remain strained to this day over two small islands off Argentina’s Atlantic coast. To the U.K., they are the Falklands, but Argentina calls them the Malvinas. In the 18th century, France, Spain and Britain all tried to lay claim to the islands, establishing early colonial settlements. France agreed to leave the islands in 1766, leaving Spanish settlers to force out the British, who withdrew in 1774.
2-1 for Argentina over England – Final
England Led Most of the Game: Argentina Comes Back to Win 2-1 and will Defend its Title in the Final
Lionel Messi will have one last chance to further extend the greatest career football has ever seen. Argentina defeated England 2-1 on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where they will seek to defend the title won four years ago in Lusail. It will be the third World Cup final for the Argentine captain, after those played in Brazil 2014 and Qatar 2022, and probably the last of a career that continues to find new chapters for history. For much of the match, England seemed to have the semi-final under control. Thomas Tuchel’s team neutralized Argentina in a very physical first half, played almost exclusively in midfield and with few scoring opportunities. Lionel Scaloni surprised everyone by including Giuliano Simeone in place of Rodrigo De Paul. The winger worked tirelessly down the right flank to provide defensive support for Nahuel Molina, while Messi played with freedom through the middle and Julián Álvarez occupied the left side of the attack.
Argentina’s approach had an immediate effect on Harry Kane. The English captain practically disappeared during the first half, well contained by Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez, while Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers also struggled to find space on the wings. Intensity dominated the match. Nineteen fouls were committed in the first 45 minutes, and American referee Ismail Elfath was slow to show cards despite several hard tackles. The first yellow card came for Elliot Anderson after a head-on collision with Messi, while Lisandro Martínez was booked shortly before halftime for holding Jude Bellingham. The clearest chance before halftime fell to Argentina.
A shot from Messi resulted in a rebound that fell to Enzo Fernández, whose shot from the edge of the box went just wide of Jordan Pickford’s goal. But England found the breakthrough in the second half. In the 55th minute, a move started by Harry Kane ended with an incomplete clearance by Nicolás Tagliafico. Morgan Rogers regained possession on the right and sent in a precise cross that found Anthony Gordon, who got behind Nahuel Molina to finish past Emiliano Martínez and make it 1-0. The goal seemed to bring England closer to another World Cup final. However, Argentina once again demonstrated the resilience that has characterized them throughout the knockout stage.
The Equalizer Came in the 85th Minute
Messi took a short corner and found Enzo Fernández unmarked at the edge of the box. The midfielder unleashed a quick, precise shot that beat Pickford’s outstretched hand, giving Argentina hope in front of 68,239 fans in Atlanta. The draw completely changed the game. England felt the impact and retreated. Argentina pushed forward, monopolized possession, and began to create constant danger. Alexis Mac Allister came close to completing the comeback with a shot that hit the post. The decisive play came in the second minute of added time. Messi reappeared. He received the ball wide on the right flank, looked up, and delivered a perfect cross into the heart of the penalty area.
Lautaro Martínez attacked the space between the center-backs and connected with an unstoppable header to beat Pickford once again and unleash the Argentine celebrations. The captain’s two assists ended up defining a semi-final in which he was once again the footballing leader of his team. The numbers reflected Argentina’s dominance. Argentina finished with 54% possession, completed 541 passes compared to England’s 292, and had 14 shots on goal to England’s just five. They also generated six corner kicks and forced Pickford into five saves. The reigning world champion suffered again, as she had already done against Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland, but once again she found answers when the scenario seemed most complicated.
Now There’s Only One Game Left
And for Lionel Messi, it will be his last World Cup final. The third final of his career, the chance to win a second consecutive world title, and the perfect stage to put the finishing touch on a story that long ago ceased to belong solely to Argentina and became part of football’s heritage.
Argentina defeated England 2-1 on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
