The Sports Desk is the editorial team responsible for covering the latest news, updates, and analysis from the world of sports. Our team of experienced writers and journalists bring you in-depth coverage of local and international sports events, player profiles, and expert opinions.
The winner of the England-Argentina clash will face Spain in the FIFA World Cup final on July 19.
Reuters
Lionel Messi's Argentina face England in a World Cup semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday, with a place in Sunday's final against Spain at stake. The fixture carries added weight from decades of political tension between the two nations. It marks the sides' first competitive meeting since 2002.
When did England last play Argentina in football?
England and Argentina last met in a competitive fixture at the 2002 World Cup. Their most recent encounters have come in friendlies, but a knockout meeting at this stage has not happened in over two decades. That history adds extra significance to Wednesday's World Cup 2026 semi-final in Atlanta.
Lionel Scaloni's Argentina are chasing a place in football history. A win would make them the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup, offering a fitting farewell for Messi on the sport's biggest stage. The 39-year-old sits joint top of the Golden Boot standings with eight goals.
Messi inspired Argentina to the 2022 title in Qatar, a tournament many expected to be his last. He has instead returned and played a central role in reaching the last four, scoring in tight 3-2 wins over Cape Verde and Egypt. Argentina now face a sterner test than any side they have met so far in the tournament.
How have England performed at the 2026 World Cup?
England have looked inconsistent under Thomas Tuchel but have leaned heavily on Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who between them have scored 12 of the team's 13 goals. A win would send England to their first World Cup final since they lifted the trophy in 1966. Tuchel confirmed midfielder Declan Rice, who had been ill, is fit to start.
Tuchel played down suggestions his side feels extra pressure given the fixture's historic weight. He said the players are nervous but that this is normal before such a match, adding that the squad is competitive and excited to play. His comments echoed a calmer tone around a match usually defined by tension.
What is the history behind the England v Argentina rivalry?
The fixture has a dramatic history. Argentina beat England 2-1 in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final in Mexico, a match remembered for Diego Maradona's two goals, including the infamous "Hand of God." Twelve years later, David Beckham was sent off in France as Argentina won on penalties.
Matches between the two nations are also shadowed by the long-running Falklands dispute, referred to in Spanish as the Malvinas. Britain sent a military taskforce in 1982 to reclaim the islands after Argentine forces invaded. Scaloni has tried to downplay this angle ahead of Wednesday's game, insisting it is simply a football match and that past events cannot be changed now.
Who will Argentina or England face in the World Cup final?
Both nations sit in FIFA's world top four and are competing for a place in Sunday's final in New Jersey against Spain. Luis de la Fuente's side delivered a commanding display in Arlington, Texas, to eliminate France, who had been widely tipped to win a third World Cup title. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Pedro Porro doubled Spain's lead, ending Didier Deschamps' tenure as France manager with a defeat.
De la Fuente credited his squad's consistency since taking charge nearly four years ago, praising their commitment and talent throughout the tournament. Spain now await the winner of England's semi-final meeting with Argentina.
Comments
See what people are discussing