Lionel Messi Shines Again As Argentina Beat England 2-1, Book World Cup Final Date With Spain
England Vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final Match Gallery: The defending champions, Argentina, staged a comeback to defeat England 2-1 on Wednesday, securing their place in the World Cup final. After falling behind 1-0 with only five minutes remaining in regulation, Enzo Fernandez and substitute Lautaro Martinez found the net for Argentina. England had initially taken the lead through Anthony Gordon, but Lionel Messi and his teammates were determined to change the outcome. Argentina intensified their efforts for an equalizer, and the mounting pressure culminated in Fernandez scoring in the 85th minute. Martinez then headed in the decisive goal two minutes into injury time. Argentina is set to face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
England's Declan Rice (4) arrives on the field before the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta AP/Jacob Kupferman
A man walks past a street mural depicting late soccer star Diego Maradona and veterans of the 1982 war AP
Argentina fans on the stands wait for the start of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina AP/Rebecca Blackwell
England's Harry Kane (9), right, and teammates arrive on the field before the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Jacob Kupferman
England's Bukayo Saka, left, and his teammates come on to the pitch for a walk around before the World Cup semifinal match AP/Rebecca Blackwell
Argentina's Rodrigo De Paul leaves after a walk around the pitch before the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Rebecca Blackwell
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (1) warms up before the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni arrives for the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Jeff Roberson
England's Dan Burn arrives on the field before the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta AP
Argentina players warm up for the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday AP/Erik S. Lesser
Referee Ismail Elfath warms up for the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta AP/Erik S. Lesser
Argentina's Lionel Messi gestures during warmup before the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Rebecca Blackwell
England's Bukayo Saka (7) warms up before the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta AP/Jeff Roberson
A fan takes a selfie before the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday AP
The flags of England, left, and Argentina, are displayed before their World Cup semifinal soccer match in Atlanta, Wednesday AP/Lynne Sladky
England's Harry Kane, center left, and Argentina's Lionel Messi greet each other before their World Cup semifinal soccer AP
Argentina's Lisandro Martinez (6) speaks to England's Jude Bellingham (10) during the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Jacob Kupferman
Argentina's Cristian Romero (13) and England's Djed Spence (25) compete for the ball during the World Cup semifinal AP/Mike Stewart
England's Declan Rice (4) and Argentina's Julian Alvarez (9) fight for the ball during the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP
Argentina's Lionel Messi controls the ball next to England's Elliot Anderson, right, during the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Rebecca Blackwell
Former England soccer player David Beckham, right, stands before the start of the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Jacob Kupferman
England's Jude Bellingham (10) challenges for the ball with Argentina's Nahuel Molina (26) during the World Cup semifinal AP/Jeff Roberson
England's Marc Guehi, center, gestures to Argentina's Leandro Paredes during an argument in the first minutes of the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Rebecca Blackwell
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) controls the ball during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina AP/Jeff Roberson
Argentina's Lionel Messi on the floor during the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (1) reacts during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina AP/Erik S. Lesser
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks with Rikers Island inmates as they watch the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina, at the jail complex in New York AP
Rikers Island inmates react as they watch the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina AP
Rikers Island inmates react as they watch the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina, at the jail complex AP
Players argue during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday, AP/Erik S. Lesser
England's Anthony Gordon (18) and Argentina's Enzo Fernandez (24) run for the ball during the World Cup semifinal AP/Erik S. Lesser
England's Anthony Gordon (18) scores the opening goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Jeff Roberson
England's Anthony Gordon (18) celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP
Referee Ismail Elfath shows the yellow card to Argentina's Cristian Romero (13) during the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP
England soccer fans celebrate during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina at The Clock pub AP/Scott Heppell
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (1) makes a save on a header by Argentina's Nico Gonzalez (15) during the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Lynne Sladky
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (1) makes a save on a header by Argentina's Nico Gonzalez (15) during the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Chris Carlson
England head coach Thomas Tuchel talks to England's Jude Bellingham during the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Rebecca Blackwell
Enzo Fernandez reacts after scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP
Argentina's Lautaro Martinez (22) scores their second goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Jeff Roberson
Argentina player celebrates after scoring their second goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta AP/Mike Stewart
Argentina's Lautaro Martinez (22) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal during the World Cup semifinal AP/Mike Stewart
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after teammate Lautaro Martinez scored their side's second goal AP/Rebecca Blackwell
An exit sign hangs above the England flag after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina AP/Scott Heppell
England's Jude Bellingham (10) reacts after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. AP
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) and England's Harry Kane (9) hug after the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Erik S. Lesser
England's Anthony Gordon (18) reacts after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta AP
Argentina's Lautaro Martinez (22) scores their second goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match AP/Chris Carlson
Argentina players celebrate at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday AP/Jeff Roberson
An England supporter looks at the flag of Spain and Argentina after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina at The Clock pub in Hebburn AP/Scott Heppell
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