England face Argentina in the World Cup 2026 semi-finals tonight. The Three Lions are looking to book their place in football’s biggest showpiece for the first time since 1966, with Spain awaiting the winners on Sunday after they brushed aside favourites France in stunning fashion. One of the fiercest rivalries in sport resumes in their first meeting for 21 years, with another famous chapter set to be written after so many memorable World Cup moments featuring the likes of Diego Maradona, David Beckham and Michael Owen.
It is the first time in his illustrious career that Lionel Messi has ever played against England, having been suspended for their last match back in 2005. His significant threat must be contained if Thomas Tuchel’s side are to progress any further and avoid a dreaded third-place play-off. England have been boosted by the fitness of Declan Rice following illness, but Tuchel has gambled with three changes to the starting XI, with Reece James, Djed Spence and Morgan Rogers all coming in.
The holders have no known injury worries, with Messi having brushed off a knock suffered against Switzerland. Follow England vs Argentina live below, with expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Atlanta Stadium.
England vs Argentina latest news
- GOAL! Gordon gives England the lead
England 1-0 Argentina
21:42 , Arthur Ferridge
81mins: Another scare for England as Tagliafico swings and misses at Mac Allister’s cross.
Argentina send Lautaro Martinez into the fray, replacing Tagliafico, as Reece James goes down injured.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:41 , Arthur Ferridge
80mins: Messi badly misplaces a pass under pressure from Kane. Is this a step too far for Argentina?
England 1-0 Argentina
21:40 , Arthur Ferridge
79mins: Rogers picks Messi’s pocket and England make a rare foray forward. Rogers has support but opts to go alone and sees his shot blocked.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:39 , Arthur Ferridge
78mins: Gonzalez arrives at the back post and heads wide from Messi’s cross. The flag is up, but replays suggest he might have been onside. That was mighty tight.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:37 , Arthur Ferridge
76mins: England have everyone behind the ball now. They seem fully prepared to hunker down and ride out this storm.
And Pickford saves again from De Paul’s header.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:36 , Arthur Ferridge
75mins: Mac Allister hits the post!
England 1-0 Argentina
21:35 , Arthur Ferridge
74mins: Spence gets the better of Messi, and the little Argentinian looks very frustrated with himself.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:34 , Arthur Ferridge
73mins: Just over a quarter of an hour remains here.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:34 , Arthur Ferridge
And there will be three more changes for Argentina. De Paul, Otamendi, and Montiel replace Simeone, Molina and Lisandro Martinez.
Pickford gets us back underway.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:33 , Arthur Ferridge
Tuchel plays his hand. Anthony Gordon is off for Ezri Konsa.
21:32 , Arthur Ferridge
The Killers’ Mr Brightside is played during the hydration break, which gives the England support a fresh lease on life. The 11 men on the pitch will need as much support as they can get over the next half-hour.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:30 , Arthur Ferridge
68mins: WHAT A SAVE! A lightning-quick reaction from Pickford to get down to Gonzalez’s header, taken from the edge of the six-yard box. That is superb stuff from the Everton man.
And it takes us into the second-half hydration break...
England 1-0 Argentina
21:29 , Arthur Ferridge
67mins: Spence is first to Messi’s corner, but his clearance is only as far as Romero. He finds Tagliafico, whose cross is pushed behind by Anderson for another corner.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:27 , Arthur Ferridge
66mins: Kane’s cross-field ball opens up Argentina and Rice finds it in space, but his low-driven shot across goal is collected by Emiliano Martinez.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:26 , Arthur Ferridge
65mins: Messi clips a superb cross into Gonzalez, who nods it back across goal in search of Tagliafico. Stones gets it away and celebrates with a roar.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:25 , Arthur Ferridge
65mins: Just 25 minutes - plus injury time - for England to hang on.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:25 , Arthur Ferridge
64mins: Here comes the first change of the day. Nico Gonzalez replaces Leandro Paredes.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:23 , Arthur Ferridge
62mins: Messi goes on a run but his central interplay with Alvarez doesn’t come off. Argentina continue to apply pressure. Considerable pressure.
Dom Smith at Atlanta Stadium
21:22 , Arthur Ferridge
It's mightily early for England to be backing off as they are. They need to try to keep the ball and play as though we're still goalless. Easier said than done, but moments when they have shown bravery have tended to be rewarded for them at this tournament.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:22 , Arthur Ferridge
61mins: Fernandez lets fly from the edge of the box, and again is made to watch it fizz over the crossbar.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:21 , Arthur Ferridge
60mins: Nerves rise as Messi dances into the box, but he is under pressure from three England defenders and fails to get a shot away. Argentina have really livened up since going behind.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:20 , Arthur Ferridge
59mins: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Argentina have often come from behind in this tournament. They were twice pegged back by Cape Verde in the last 32, and trailed Egypt by two before coming from behind to progress in the last-16.
England 1-0 Argentina
21:19 , Arthur Ferridge
57mins: Simeone is played in behind and bears down on goal, but Djed Spence puts in a simply stunning tackle to dispossess him at a vital moment. He celebrates wildly!
Dom Smith at Atlanta Stadium
21:18 , Arthur Ferridge
That is a phenomenal counter-attacking goal, England's best of the tournament. Superb football from Thomas Tuchel's side.
GOAL! England 1-0 Argentina | Gordon '55
21:16 , Arthur Ferridge
Anthony Gordon opens the scoring for England! He latches onto a pinpoint cross from Rogers to tap home at the back post.
England 0-0 Argentina
21:15 , Arthur Ferridge
54mins: Paredes attempts a cross-field ball to the onrushing Tagliafico, but slightly overcooks it.
England 0-0 Argentina
21:15 , Arthur Ferridge
54mins: Molina whips a pacey cross into the England box but can only find Bellingham. Argentina come again.
England 0-0 Argentina
21:14 , Arthur Ferridge
52mins: Spence takes an inadvertent smack in the face from Simeone and the referee stops play. Unclear why, with Romero down hurt on the halfway line, but everyone seems fit to continue.
England 0-0 Argentina
21:13 , Arthur Ferridge
51mins: Cristian Romero gets his customary booking after rugby tackling Bellingham off the ball. Both Argentina centre-backs have had their names taken now.
England 0-0 Argentina
21:12 , Arthur Ferridge
50mins: Rice picks up a loose ball after a poor pass from Simeone to Alvarez, but Argentina are so deep and compact that he just cannot find a way through. After some cycling, Rogers gets a low cross away, but it is easily dealt with.
Romero then puts in some quick feet to beat pressure from Gordon.
England 0-0 Argentina
21:11 , Arthur Ferridge
50mins: Spence beats Fernandez and smacks a cross into the Argentina box, but Lisandro Martinez is there to bat it away.
England 0-0 Argentina
21:09 , Arthur Ferridge
48mins: Messi swings a lovely cross in, but Stones gets his head to it before anyone else.
It comes back out to Messi on the right flank, but Bellingham gets between him and the ball to snuff out the danger.
England 0-0 Argentina
21:08 , Arthur Ferridge
47mins: HUGE SAVE FROM PICKFORD! Spence misreads a bouncing ball and Alvarez gets in behind, but the England keeper gets down superbly to deny him. His follow-up is deflected into the side-netting by Guehi, and Argentina have a corner.
England 0-0 Argentina
21:06 , Arthur Ferridge
England will require a second attempt at the kick-off after Anthony Gordon left his mark and entered the Argentine half too early.
2ND HALF: England 0-0 Argentina
21:06 , Arthur Ferridge
We are back underway in Atlanta!
Can one of these sides find a breakthrough, or will we require extra time - or even penalties? It doesn’t bear thinking about.
Here we go
21:04 , Arthur Ferridge
The players are making their way back out. We will be back underway momentarily.
First half in pictures
20:55 , Arthur Ferridge
Half-time stats
20:52 , Arthur Ferridge
Argentina have enjoyed a slight advantage in possession, finishing that half with 56 per cent.
The first half ends with just three shots - two for Argentina and one for England - none of which were on target. The first did not come until Stones headed wide after 33 minutes.
These two sides have generated just 0.08 xG between them.
There has, however, been 19 fouls! England were the perpetrators of seven and Argentina 12. The two sides head in at the break with one booking apiece, though.
HALF-TIME: England 0-0 Argentina
20:49 , Arthur Ferridge
45+4mins: Gordon’s cross is headed behind by Fernandez for a corner... but they will not get to take it. The referee blows for half-time.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:48 , Arthur Ferridge
45+3mins: A high boot from Parades near James hands England a free-kick near the halfway line, which should get the ball rolling on this half’s final passage of play.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:48 , Arthur Ferridge
45+2mins: England are forced all the way back to Pickford. A long-ball between the lines is sent up to Rogers, but he had strayed offside.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:47 , Arthur Ferridge
45+1mins: England are laying siege to the Argentine box as injury time ticks away. They can’t quite find a way through - yet.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:46 , Arthur Ferridge
45mins: Just the three added minutes to end the first half.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:45 , Arthur Ferridge
44mins: Anderson pings one forwards to James on the right flank, but the Chelsea man cannot bring it down at full stretch. Tagliafico takes his time collecting the ball to restart.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:43 , Arthur Ferridge
43mins: And it could even be 19 as Romero pushes Bellingham down with two hands in the back to win the ball, but he gets away scot-free.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:43 , Arthur Ferridge
43mins: Make that 18.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:43 , Arthur Ferridge
43mins: Just the 17 total fouls so far in this first-half.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:42 , Arthur Ferridge
42mins: Rice cuts out a pass in the defensive third and England attempt to break through Rogers, who is pulled back by Lisandro Martinez. He pulled the England man’s shirt in doing so and is duly booked.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:41 , Arthur Ferridge
40mins: The possession is all Argentina’s as we move into the final five minutes of the first half. Will the deadlock be broken before half-time?
England 0-0 Argentina
20:39 , Arthur Ferridge
38mins: CLOSE! Messi’s blocked shot falls to Fernandez, who puts his laces through it from 25 yards. It is not far away at all, but finishes just over Pickford’s bar.
Dom Smith at Atlanta Stadium
20:38 , Arthur Ferridge
No different from how Bellingham was stopped. Anderson first into the book and that makes his job so much harder from here on in. Referee has struggled, very much so.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:38 , Arthur Ferridge
37mins: Remarkably, Elliot Anderson is the first man to be booked in this match. Go figure. Argentina restart with a free-kick, 40 yards out or so.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:37 , Arthur Ferridge
36mins: And he does shoot! Martinez comes off his line to parry, and Argentina get the ball clear.
Messi is the one to break and he beats a few men before being tackled unceremoniously, sparking some more pushing and shoving.
A yellow card has been brandished amongst the melee.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:36 , Arthur Ferridge
36mins: James is standing over this free-kick. It is theoretically within shooting range, but you think he’d prefer to cross. Let’s see.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:35 , Arthur Ferridge
35mins: Spence plays Gordon through, but his touch to beat his marker is misguided. England recover through James and Spence, and the siege continues.
Bellingham is brought down high in the right channel, and it will be another threatening free-kick.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:35 , Arthur Ferridge
34mins: Simeone fouls Guehi. That, I believe, is his fifth foul of the match. No cards as of yet, though.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:33 , Arthur Ferridge
33mins: Rice’s floated ball finds Stones at the back post, but the veteran defender - still a free agent, mind - heads wide of the mark. He beat Lisandro Martinez in the air with absolute ease.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:33 , Arthur Ferridge
Rice to take...
England 0-0 Argentina
20:32 , Arthur Ferridge
32mins: Bellingham does well to get away from Simeone and is brought down at the corner of the penalty area as he bears down on goal. This could be England’s best chance yet. The free-kick looks to be about 30 yards out.
Rice and James are discussing how to play it...
England 0-0 Argentina
20:31 , Arthur Ferridge
30mins: Kane sprays a beautiful long pass up to James. The Chelsea man is beaten to it, but Lisandro happily concedes the throw-in.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:29 , Arthur Ferridge
29mins: A late tackle on James somehow results in Argentina being awarded a free-kick, and Tuchel is left apoplectic.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:29 , Arthur Ferridge
28mins: Well - that was almost a disaster restart for England. Pickford takes the free-kick short, gets it back under pressure, and loses it. Argentina should have made more of the chance but an awkward touch from Alvarez sees the move break down. From the restart, Pickford leathers his goal-kick well clear of any danger.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:28 , Arthur Ferridge
28mins: The players have taken on fluids and instructions, and we get back underway with a Pickford free-kick.
Dom Smith at Atlanta Stadium
20:26 , Arthur Ferridge
A first quarter well managed by England, but also by Argentina. It is tense and tight and exactly as we might have expected.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:25 , Arthur Ferridge
And that takes us to the hydration break!
England 0-0 Argentina
20:25 , Arthur Ferridge
24mins: Pickford flaps at the corner under pressure - very tidy delivery - but Simeone is penalised for impeding the keeper.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:24 , Arthur Ferridge
24mins: As Argentina set things up, Mac Allister, Simeone and Romero are all crowded around Pickford.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:24 , Arthur Ferridge
23mins: Messi goes short to Simeone, who wins a corner from Djed Spence.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:23 , Arthur Ferridge
22mins: Bellingham catches Mac Allister a little late, and Messi is now standing over a free-kick some 40 yards out.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:21 , Arthur Ferridge
20mins: Julian Alvarez swings a well-placed cross to Messi, but the little magician can’t quite bring it down. Appears he was offside anyway.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:20 , Arthur Ferridge
19mins: Kane does well to find Rogers in space on the right, and he in turn plays James in behind on the overlap. Chelsea’s captain hits his cross first time, but Martinez does well to collect.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:19 , Arthur Ferridge
18mins: Tagliafico sticks a heavy-handed tackle on Rogers but the Aston Villa man’s appeals go unheeded.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:18 , Arthur Ferridge
17mins: Spence does wonderfully well to jink into the box, but Fernandez races back to tackle him and somehow manages to win a goal-kick. He has made a really bright start to this match, has Djed Spence.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:16 , Arthur Ferridge
16mins: Bellingham wins the ball on the edge of the England box and looks to break away on the counter, but Paredes stops him dead in his tracks with a tidy sliding tackle. Messi picks up the ball and goes to ground, but the referee waves away his complaints.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:15 , Arthur Ferridge
14mins: Gordon makes a smart run forward and cuts inside. He is looking to work a shooting angle but just looks to beat one man too many and loses possession. An Argentine counter comes to nothing, despite Alvarez appearing to get the better of a rusty Reece James.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:14 , Arthur Ferridge
13mins: Messi plays Simeone in behind, but the offside flag is up. Pickford trots over to take the ball off the Argentine, but he tosses it away and throws himself to the ground. Ridiculous theatrics from the Atletico Madrid man.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:13 , Arthur Ferridge
13mins: Jeers go up from the England supporters in the ground as Messi clips in controlling the ball. Being Messi, he still manages to get a pinpoint pass away and Argentina retain possession.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:13 , Arthur Ferridge
12mins: More animosity off the ball as Anderson and Fernandez come together, with both seeming to impede the other in getting back up. Elsewhere, Paredes is on the turf. Meanwhile, Tuchel and Scaloni are exchanging pleasantries on the touchline. It’s all happening here.
Dom Smith at Atlanta Stadium
20:11 , Arthur Ferridge
What a fast start in this match. Both sides pressing tightly in midfield, trying to give the opposition no time on the ball at all. It's been feisty and England have been slightly on top, I'd say.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:11 , Arthur Ferridge
11mins: Gordon latches onto a lofted ball in behind, but plays a tame cross into the waiting arms of Emi Martinez. He had Morgan Rogers in the middle but couldn’t quite find him.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:10 , Arthur Ferridge
9mins: Simeone clatters Anderson - again - to end an extended spell of Argentine possession. England play forward from Guehi to Kane, but the striker immediately loses touch. Quite bitty opening exchanges here, neither team quite able to settle as of yet.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:08 , Arthur Ferridge
8mins: Rice’s deliveries this summer have been generally poor, and this one is neither here nor there. He floats it into the middle, but Romero clears.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:07 , Arthur Ferridge
7mins: England win their first corner of the afternoon, and Rice will take.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:07 , Arthur Ferridge
6mins: Another heavy challenge stuck on Anderson here, this time with Simeone taking the Man City man’s legs out from under him.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:06 , Arthur Ferridge
5mins: James loses the ball to Mac Allister at the back to set England scrambling, but a loose pass from Alvarez in search of Messi sees the attack break down.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:05 , Arthur Ferridge
5mins: Spence makes a marauding run down the left flank and seems to have his heart set on winning a corner, but is dispossessed at the last moment.
Dom Smith at Atlanta Stadium
20:04 , Arthur Ferridge
Tempers already high in this game. Think we could be in for a lot of that.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:04 , Arthur Ferridge
3mins: Messi gets his first touches on the ball and is immediately pounced upon by Anderson and Kane, who win the ball. Anderson is subsequently clattered by Enzo Fernandez, and the argy-bargy begins. We all knew there was going to be plenty of needle here. Wasn’t quite expecting it after three minutes!
England 0-0 Argentina
20:02 , Arthur Ferridge
2mins: England win the first foul of the afternoon as Paredes goes through the back of Bellingham off the ball. A classic “let him know you’re there” kind of tackle.
England 0-0 Argentina
20:01 , Arthur Ferridge
1min: England employ a spirited press from the off and immediately force Argentina into an error, with Simeone playing a pass into touch.
KICK-OFF! England 0-0 Argentina
20:00 , Arthur Ferridge
This World Cup semi-final is underway! Argentina’s captain, one Lionel Messi, gets things going.
That's that...
19:56 , Arthur Ferridge
The anthems are done and dusted - there’s only one thing left to do now.
The World Cup semi-final. England vs Argentina. Kick-off... up next!
Dom Smith at Atlanta Stadium
19:56 , Arthur Ferridge
First time at an England game when I have been genuinely unable to hear the English national anthem. Argentina fans drowning it out with boos and songs of their own. Quite impressive actually. Boos returning in reply now from England fans, and to be fair it’s a similar story.
19:55 , Arthur Ferridge
A full-throated rendition of ‘God save the King’ goes first, though Argentina’s markedly jaunty ‘Himno Nacional’ will surely match the energy.
19:52 , Arthur Ferridge
With that said, Jordan Pickford is all smiles as he greets his mascot.
Here. We. Go.
19:51 , Arthur Ferridge
The teams are making their way out onto the pitch! The England team look stoney-faced and focused. Time for the two anthems.
Team news reminder
19:45 , Arthur Ferridge
With 15 minutes to kick-off, here’s a reminder of today’s starting lineups.
England XI: Pickford; Spence, Stones, Guehi, James; Anderson, Rice; Gordon, Bellingham, Rogers; Kane
Argentina XI: E. Martinez; Tagliafico, L. Martinez, Romero, Molina; Paredes, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Simeone; Alvarez, Messi
Another record for Kane?
19:42 , Arthur Ferridge
Harry Kane will pick win his 120th cap tonight, making him England men’s most-capped outfield player ever.
Peter Shilton, the outright record-holder, has 125 caps to his name.
Atmosphere building
19:40 , Arthur Ferridge
England are well represented in Atlanta, despite Argentina having a larger following at the ground...
England star gives London Marathon hero free tickets to Argentina semi-final
19:38 , Arthur Ferridge
An England fan who performed heroics at the London Marathon has been gifted tickets for Wednesday’s semi-final clash with Argentina by Kobbie Mainoo.
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