Argentina defeats England in World Cup semifinal with late goals
16.07.2026
Argentina secured a victory against England in a World Cup semifinal match held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The match saw a dramatic finish with Argentina scoring two goals late in the game after trailing for much of the contest.
The first half of the semifinal was marked by intense exchanges and contested fouls, though no goals were scored. The atmosphere was tense, as the reigning world champions faced a top-ranked team for the first time in the tournament.
First Half Incidents and Statistics
Early in the match, Jude Bellingham of England was fouled by Leandro Paredes. A few minutes later, Elliott Anderson challenged Lionel Messi, leading to a retaliatory foul from Enzo Fernandez. Despite the heated moments, the referee did not issue any cards during these early incidents.
Anderson later earned England a free kick in the seventh minute after being fouled by Giuliano Simeone, but England could not convert the opportunity. In the 13th minute, Anderson and Fernandez were involved in another confrontation, with Morgan Rogers and Paredes also joining. England‘s head coach, Thomas Tuchel, remonstrated on the touchline, believing his team was wronged by the Argentinian midfielder, but no cards were shown at that point.
Both teams received one card each in the first half. Anderson was booked in the 38th minute for his challenge on Messi, which resulted in a scuffle between players. Shortly after, in the 42nd minute, Argentina‘s Martinez received a booking for pulling back Rogers, a decision Martinez protested.
In terms of fouls, England committed seven in the first half, while Argentina had 12. Argentina maintained 56 percent possession, with England holding 44 percent. Despite the intensity, the first half concluded without either team registering a shot on goal.
Dramatic Second Half Turnaround
The second half saw goals that shifted the outcome. Argentina trailed England for the majority of the match with a 1-0 scoreline until the final minutes. Enzo Fernández scored for Argentina in the 85th minute, firing the ball from beyond the box.
Seven minutes after Fernández‘s equalizer, Lautaro Martínez scored what became the game-winning goal during stoppage time. Lionel Messi provided an assist for this crucial goal.
This match marked the first time Messi has played against England in his career. The two national teams have a notable history, including Argentina‘s victory in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals, known for Diego Maradona‘s “Hand of God” play. In the 1998 World Cup, David Beckham received a red card before Argentina won in a penalty shootout.
Tournament Context and Final Match
This summer, Argentina won Group J, and Messi became the all-time World Cup leading scorer. England won Group L, then defeated Mexico at Estadio Azteca, and subsequently eliminated Erling Haaland and Norway from the competition.
Argentina has three World Cup titles, while England won the 1966 World Cup on home soil. The winner of this semifinal match will advance to face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The World Cup final is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 19.
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Source: eu.usatoday.com
Ishaan Kapoor
Sports correspondent covering cricket, football and international competitions.