FIFA World Cup 2026, 2nd semi-final, Argentina beat England 2-1

New York : Argentina come from behind to down England 2-1 in the FIFA 2026 World Cup semi-final on Wednesday. They face Spain in the final on Sunday.

England's Anthony Gordon celebrates scoring their first goal

Early in the 2nd half, Julian Alvarez takes a shot on goal on the counter from a pass by Messi, Pickford gets a hand and Argentina appeal for a corner. It amounts to nought.

Cristian Romero then gets a yellow card in the 50th minute for holding on to Jude Bellingham in his stride towards goal.

Argentina keep the ball in the England half and in the 54th minute, Paredes drills one wide.

On the counter, England take the lead as Anthony Gordon times his run perfectly and taps in a cross from Rogers past Emi Martinez. 1-0 England.

England's Jordan Pickford saves a header from Argentina's Nicolas Gonzalez

In the 58th minute, Spence makes a superb tackle to deny Simeone who was through on goal from the right. 

Argentina make a change in the 64th minute with Paredes subbed out and Nico Gonzalez coming on.

And he has made a quick impact. And Gonzalez heads a superb cross from a Messi corner but Pickford is equal to the task.

England go into the hydration break with a 1-0 lead. 

Argentina's Lautaro Martinez scores their second goal  

Argentina make four substitutions after the break and De Paul and Lautaro Martinez come in.

Argentina have looked a little more attacking.

In the 79th, England break away but Rogers shoots in a defender.

Pickford has had some nervy few minutes and Argentina get a corner.

The corner produces a move and Enzo Fernandez drills a powerful shot from outside the box for the equaliser. VAR comes into play and the goal stands. Argentina equalise in the 85th minute.

Argentina's pressure pays off.

9 minutes added time and Lautaro Martinez rises to head in a Messi cross to give Argentina a 2-1 lead.

England's Elliot Anderson and Anthony Gordon clash with Argentina's Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi, and Leandro Paredes 

It's been a scrappy first half in Atlanta as England and Argentina go into the break 0-0.

There were plenty of challenges in the first half with Argentina 12 fouls and England making 7.

Both teams played swift football but without real ball control. England have done well to keep Lionel Messi quiet in the first 45 minutes.

England's Elliot Anderson fouls Argentina's Lionel Messi and receives a yellow card

There is more purpose after the hydration break and England are awarded a free-kick after a goal-bound Belligham is felled by Enzo Fernandez on the left in the 32nd minute.

Rice takes the free-kick but John Stones's header goes wide. 

England pressing and they get another free-kick as Molina brings down Bellingha, just outside the box. 9th Argentine foul this. Reece James takes the free-kick, again nothing. 

Argentina's Lionel Messi, Leandro Paredes and England's Djed Spence remonstrate with referee Ismail Elfath  

In the 37th minute, Messi is brought down on the counter by Elliot Anderson and he gets a card but not before there is some more hot heads.

Messi takes the free-kick and on the rebound, Enzo Fernandez fires in a long ranger on goal but it flies above the cross bar. 

England are breaking through the mid-field swiftly and challenging the Argentine defence. 

Argentina's Lisandro Martinez pulls the shirt of England's Morgan Rogers leading to a yellow card 

Lisandro Martinez gets a yellow for a challenge on a forward prancing Rogers in the 42nd minute.

Both teams have played without any real controlled possession.

Three minutes of added time given in the first half.

England's Jude Bellingham is challenged by Argentina's Enzo Fernandez 

It's just three minutes on the clock after kick-off and it's already heating up After an early push by Paredes on Bellingham, Fernandez fouls Anderson. 

Moments later. a late challenge on Anderson by Enzo Fernandez in the centre of the field has caused some pushing and shoving between players.

Giuliano Simeone then commits a foul.

A corner for England in the 7th minute and Declan Rice floats in the corner but it amounts to nothing.

This game is on the edge, as everyone seems to be on the burner with heavy challenges exchanged in the early minutes in Atlanta.

Tackles flying all over.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni reacts as England's Morgan Rogers looks on 

Anderson is tackled by Fernandez and the pair, while on the floor, tangle before Rogers is penalised with a coming together with Paredes.

Argentina get a free-kick in the 12th minute.

Three minutes later, Simeone commits a foul. 

Both teams have really not made any worthwhile moves in the first 20 minutes.

Rogers passes to James, who shoots from the right in the 19th but Emi Martinez makes an easy save.

In the 24th minute Argentina get a corner, Messi takes it, but it amounts to nothing. 

It's been a scrappy 24 minutes in Atlanta.

Argentina's Lionel Messi warms up before the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final against England on Wednesday 

England manager Thomas Tuchel has made three changes to the starting lineup for the World Cup semi-final against Argentina.

Reece James and Djed Spence are brought into England's back four, with Morgan Rogers replacing Noni Madueke on the wing.

Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni has made one change, with Giuliano Simeone replacing Rodrigo De Paul.

The winners of this semi-final will proceed to face Spain in Sunday's final.

Key players like Harry Kane (England) and Lionel Messi (Argentina) are confirmed in their respective starting XIs.
 
England have made three changes to their starting side for the World Cup semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday, with manager Thomas Tuchel bringing Reece James and Djed Spence into the back four, while opposing coach Lionel Scaloni makes one switch.

Squad Adjustments for Crucial Match :James, who started the first two group games, is selected at right back and Djed Spence replaces Nico O'Reilly on the left. Morgan Rogers comes in for Noni Madueke on the wing for England.

Giuliano Simeone replaces Rodrigo De Paul in Argentina's only change from the last two games.

The winners will face Spain in Sunday's final.

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

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