LIVE: England vs Argentina – FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal

Live Match,

First published on July 15, 2026 at 19:01 GMT.

The match is the second semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the winner advancing to the final.

• Defending champions Argentina face England in the second semifinal at the FIFA World Cup 2026, renewing one of football’s most bitter rivalries.
• The match at the Atlanta Stadium, United States, kicks off at 3pm local time (19:00 GMT).

51 Updates

• Argie-bargy to begin

  An early shoulder barge lands on Bellingham's back. Has the match's tone been set before any aggressive move?

  2 mins: England 0-0 Argentina

• Argentina get the match under way

  The ball is immediately sent back to the keeper, who punts long to hand possession to England in the centre of the park.

  1 min: England 0-0 Argentina

  

• England and Argentina are under way in the second World Cup semifinal

  England wear their white tops, with blue shorts and socks. Argentina are in their dark blue second kit, and the game is under way in Atlanta.

  Kickoff: England 0-0 Argentina

• One game away for England and Argentina

  There may be a third-place playoff for the bronze medal on Saturday, but ultimately for these two teams they will hope that they are one game from a shot at immortality in the footballing universe.

  Will Lionel Messi have one more shot at football’s biggest prize as Argentina look to become only the third side to defend a World Cup crown?

  Can England finally end their 60-year wait for glory? Their only previous final appearance came when they hosted the 1966 tournament and won.

  Spain will have plenty to say themselves, but the focus now is one of the biggest matchups that sport produces – and we’ll bring you every kick that counts.

  Kickoff is seconds away.

• After the war of words, handshakes from the players

  Political heat may hang over this game, as well as the pure rivalry of respect on the field, but it is time for the handshakes before battle commences.

• The national anthem of Argentina plays

  The Argentina players line up as it is their turn to observe their national anthem.

• England’s national anthem is up first

  The national of England plays first in Atlanta – shoulder-to-shoulder the players sing with their arms wrapped around each other.

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• The players emerge in Atalanta and the world expects

  The players march out onto the field for what is never anything other than a highly-charged affair between these sides.

  This one has an extra bite – it is the first semifinal meeting between the footballing giants.

  It is also the first time the legendary Lionel Messi will line up in a game against the England side. Will the maestro leave his mark on one of sport’s greatest rivalries?

  

• The teams head to the tunnel

  The final words have been spoken in the dressing room as we can see the images on our screens of the players of both sides starting to make their way to the tunnel.

• Team news reminder: Argentina make one change

  Giuliano Simeone has been named in place of Rodrigo De Paul in midfield for Argentina.

  It is the one change to the side that beat Switzerland in the quarterfinals.

  Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel ⁠Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro ⁠Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Leandro Paredes, Giuliano Simeone, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez

• Team news reminder: England make three changes

  Reece James, Djed Spence and Morgan Rogers replace Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly and Noni Madueke for England following their quarterfinal win against Norway.

  England: Jordan Pickford; Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Djed Spence; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson; Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers; Harry Kane

  

• Argentina vs England at the World Cup

  England and Argentina have met five times at the FIFA World Cup.

  England have won three times, while Argentina have won twice.

  In their last World Cup meeting in 2002, England won that group game 1-0, with David Beckham scoring a first-half penalty.

  • England 1-0 Argentina – 2002
  • Argentina 2-2 England (4-3 on penalties) – 1998
  • Argentina 2-1 England – 1986
  • England 1-0 Argentina – 1966
  • England 3-1 Argentina – 1962

  

• Argentine VP calls England ‘pirates’ ahead of World Cup semifinal clash

  Argentina’s Vice President Victoria Villarruel has called the English “usurping pirates” before the two countries’ World Cup semifinal clash.

  “We play against the usurping pirates. It’s not just another match,” Villarruel said in a post on X.

  The iconic football match will take place against the backdrop of a lingering sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands, known in Spanish as the Malvinas, in the South Atlantic Ocean.

  “I’m not going to be politically correct or keep a cool head – it’s always something more against the English,” Villarruel wrote.

• Head-to-head

  Overall, they have met 14 times in competitive and friendly matches.

  England lead the head-to-head record with six wins, while Argentina have three. Five games ended in a draw.

  Last five encounters:

  • England 3-2 Argentina (international friendly, 2005)
  • England 1-0 Argentina (World Cup 2002, group stage)
  • England 0-0 Argentina (international friendly, 2000)
  • Argentina 2-2 England (4-3 on penalties, World Cup 1998, round of 16)
  • England 2-2 Argentina (Challenge Cup, 1991)

• England vs Argentina: Kickoff time, where to watch

  United Kingdom: BBC One, BBC iPlayer (8pm, British Summer Time)

  Argentina: TyC Sports, TyC Play (4pm, Argentina Standard Time)

  United States: Fox, Fox One, Telemundo App, Telemundo Network, Peacock, Universo (3pm, Eastern Daylight Time)

  To check the TV listings for your country, head to FIFA’s TV listing schedule here.

• What is the prediction for Argentina vs England?

  As of Monday, Opta’s supercomputer gives England a 38.9 percent probability of winning in regulation time, while Argentina’s chances of winning are 34.1 percent.

  The model estimates a 27 percent probability of the game going to extra time.

• How did Argentina reach the semifinals?

  Argentina had a strong showing in the first round, topping Group J by beating Algeria, Austria and Jordan.

  In the round of 32, they were pushed to their limits before squeezing past Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time, and came from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 in a controversial last-16 contest which drew allegations of officiating bias.

  Against Switzerland in the quarterfinals, Argentina again played a full 120 minutes before securing a 3-1 win after extra time.

• How did England reach the semifinals?

  England topped Group L with seven points, beating Croatia and Panama and drawing with Ghana.

  They needed a second-half comeback to beat the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the round of 32 and knocked out co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in a scintillating last-16 contest at the iconic Azteca Stadium.

  In the quarterfinals, they came from a goal down to beat Norway 2-1 in extra time.

A win for Argentina would make them only the third side to successfully defend the World Cup, while England are seeking their first final appearance since 1966. The victor will play in Sunday's championship match, with a bronze medal playoff scheduled for Saturday.