Argentina beat England 2-1 to reach World Cup final

Argentina defeated England 2-1 in a dramatic 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday, sending the defending champions through to face Spain in Sunday's final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.espn+2

Lautaro Martínez struck deep into stoppage time at 90+2' to clinch victory for Lionel Scaloni's side after Alexis Mac Allister had equalized with a header. Anthony Gordon had given England the lead in the 55th minute, raising hopes of a first World Cup final appearance for the Three Lions since 1966.1news+3

A Rivalry Renewed

The match marked the first World Cup meeting between England and Argentina since 2002, and carried the weight of one of football's most storied rivalries. Echoes of Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal and his sublime solo effort in the 1986 quarterfinal — also a 2-1 Argentina victory — loomed over proceedings in Atlanta.foxsports+2

Thomas Tuchel's England side, who had reached the semifinal with a 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway, controlled proceedings early and took a deserved lead through Gordon. But Argentina, unbeaten in their last 12 World Cup matches heading into the game, showed the resilience that carried them to back-to-back finals.cosm+2

Road to the Final

Argentina's path to Sunday's showpiece has been anything but straightforward. They needed extra time to beat ten-man Switzerland 3-1 in the quarterfinals, with Julián Álvarez scoring a stunning long-range strike in the 112th minute before Lautaro Martínez added a third. Lionel Messi, who entered the semifinal with eight tournament goals, led his squad through a group stage that included victories over Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.espn+3

Spain await in the final after beating France 2-0 in Tuesday's first semifinal, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting a penalty and Pedro Porro adding a second. It will be Spain's first World Cup final since their triumph in 2010.1news

Messi's Last Dance Continues

For the 39-year-old Messi, the victory extends what is widely expected to be his final World Cup by at least one more match. Having lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022, he now has the chance to become the first captain to lead a team to consecutive World Cup titles since Brazil's Pelé-era sides of 1958 and 1962. The final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19.englandfootball+1