England vs Argentina live online: goals, updates, score, and highlights | Messi in 2026 World Cup semifinal

Kane looks wide for Rodgers who hit James on the overlap. James tried the early ball in looking for Kane but that low cross was snagged by Martinez. 

Still looking for our first shot on goal 18 minutes into this match. As expected this is tight. It's physical and both teams are trying to find themselves in this match. 

Paredes and Jude are locked in a duel and it started from the first minute. Paredes just made a sliding challenge on Bellingham and had plenty to say to Jude after winning the ball back for his team. Jude shrugged it off with a smile. 

Gordon takes over from Spence after the defender poked the ball away from an Argentina player and took a little too long to make up his mind. He had options but touched it into the middle looking for a shot but instead was swarmed by four defenders. 

Most of this match has been played in the attacking half of England. Argentina have spent much of these first few minutes either chasing or fouling. 

We aren't even a quarter of an hour into this match and the ref is already about to lose control of this match. Anderson goes to ground. No call, and we move on. 

Enzo setting the tone early on with a little forearm to the back of Anderson. 

Infantino was just shown on the big screen here from Atlanta and strangely enough there weren't as many boos as their normally are. Could have something to do with the large Argentina contingency in the crowd. 

Tagliafico gets dragged to ground by James and the ref was all on top of that. I have to think if this turns into an ugly game, Argentina will benefit. They don't mind a scrap. England won't back down, but that's not exactly their game. 

Rice with an outswinger from the near side and that was cleared away with a convincing header from Romero. 

Rodgers down the right side and his ball into the middle is sent away for a corner kick. 

Anderson gets taken down again and we have a battle playing out here from Atlanta. The ref has his work cut out for him today. 

Spence with a shining run down the left side and he megged Molina on his way into the box before having his run shut down by Romero. 

There was a little dust up and Jude Bellingham was in the middle of everything. Paredes and him had to be seperated but the ref called for calm. 

Anderson got taken down by Enzo Fernandez right after the contact on Messi and he is lucky to get away with no yellow after coming in with a forearm to the head of the England midfielder. 

Messi got held up in the midfield and the Argentina players were all over the ref asking for a foul if not more. Nothing came. 

This is the best team Argentina have played all tournament. England will want to come out on the front foot, but this is a semifinal. Nerves play a part. 

England do well when teams try to attack them. Argentina will attack when they can, but they know the danger England possess up front.

THE SECOND SEMIFINAL IS UNDERWAY FROM ATLANTA!!! IT'S A WORLD CUP CLASSIC. ARGENTINA AND ENGLAND FOR A SPOT IN THE FINAL!

The anthems have been screamed around the ground here from Atlanta and he just have one more order of business to tend to. Kickoff in a matter of minutes.

For Argentina they are keeping Rodrigo de Paul on the bench and going with Simeone on the right side. Alvarez gets the nod after scoring the game winner against Switzerland. 

World Cup 2026

Who is Ismail Elfath, the referee for England vs Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semifinal matchup?

The man in the middle

Referees have been a huge part of this World Cup. There have been some questionable calls over the course of the tournament, and referees have been in the spotlight and making headlines a little more often than fans and players would prefer. Some say Argentina have been beneficiaries of a lot of those calls. Today's ref in charge of his second semifinal is Ismail Elfath. Our Roddy Cons has the low down on the man in the middle.

England get Rice back from an illness and have Reece James back from injury. Rodgers gets plugged into the middle with Anderson and Rice with Saka and Madueke starting on the bench. It's a new look from Tuchel for this semifinal against Argentina.

World Cup 2026

Why does Argentina star Alexis Mac Allister have a Scottish surname?

Mac Allister's name origins 

He was one of the heroes of the quarterfinal. Alexis Mac Allister scored a goal in the quarterfinal against Norway and now he is getting ready for the semifinal against England. There is one burning question behind the midfielders last name. Our Roddy Cons has all you need to know.

World Cup winner odds

Taking a look at the odds of the three teams left in the tournament we see Spain with the best odds after beating France yesterday. That could be because they have only one more match to win where England and Argentina will have to get through today before thinking about winning it all. Spain are paying (-152), while England pay (+300) and Argentina pay (+400).

FIFA World Rankings

Taking a look at the FIFA World Rankings after France’s loss to Spain yesterday we see Spain at the top of the rankings for the first time all tournament. France dropped to second in the standings with Argentina dipping to third for the first time all World Cup. They came into this tournament in the top spot but after a few tough knockout matches they have dropped down to third but still lead England who sit in fourth in the standings.

World Cup

Liam Gallagher says he’s ready to perform Wonderwall on pitch if England make it to final 

An England Oasis in NY/NJ?

Liam Gallagher is a well known Manchester City fan, on top of being one of the most famous singers in the world. His band's song Oasis has been adopted as the victory cry for England after their wins in this World Cup. He made a promise on social media earlier in this campaign, and he is one win away from having to deliver on that bet. Click to read more.

World Cup 2026

Understanding the heated rivalry between Argentina and England: The history behind the on and off-field hostility

Most memorable ARG vs. ENG matches

As we mentioned earlier, thanks to Jennifer Bubel's article, this is the 15th match up between these two sides. There have been some memorable matches, fantastic goals and historic performances. Our William Allen is here to remind you of all of those points of reference in this massive international derby.

World Cup

Who coined the term ‘Hand of God’? The origins of Maradona’s goal against England and the Mexican media reaction in 1986

Hand of God history lesson

These two teams can't play each other without mentioning one of the most famous plays, and goals in the history of the sport. It was the quarterfinal of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. England and Argentina locked in goalless battle coming out of halftime, but in the 51st minute Maradonna scores a goal on a ball sent into the box to put Argentina on the board first. After seeing the review it was evident the No.10 deflected the ball with his hand, but the goal would go down in history as Argentina won the game and would go on to win their second star two games after the Hand of God. Our Calum Roche has more.

World Cup 2026

How rare is a back-to-back World Cup champion? The historical stats behind defending the title

Back to back World Cup winner

Argentina have a chance to join an elite list of World Cup winners who have won back to back tournaments. It hasn't happened in over six decades and has only happened twice in the history of the tournament. Our William Allen has more.

World Cup 2026

What is England’s record against Argentina? All-time head-to-head record ahead of 2026 World Cup semifinals

All time series record: ARG-ENG

There is lots of tension between these two teams, we already know that. Historically, politically and sportingly there is no love lost between England and Argentina. This will be the fifteenth meeting between these two teams. Our Jennifer Bubel has the entire historical break down of those first 14 encounters.

Starting XI Argentina

Lionel Scaloni has his XI set for this World Cup semifinal. He is going with Martinez in goal behind Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Tagliafico in the back. Giuliano Simone gets the nod with Paredes, Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez in the middle. Messi will be floating around behind Julian Alvarez.

Minutes racking up

England's road has been, on paper, harder than Argentina’s. They had to play Mexico in altitude in a stadium that El Tri hardly ever lose. Then they have to play Norway in the middle of a Miami summer day. That match went to extra time, which accounts for an extra 30 minutes of group stage soccer, but Argentina have to come into this match with the tank some what empty. They went to extra time in two of their three knockout matches and if it wasn’t for a 2-0 comeback and a stoppage time goal against Egypt that would be three ETs in three KO matches. Messi is 39 years old and has carried this team in this tournament. How much more can he give this team after a grueling last week and a half.

Cup cake run for defending champs?

It has nothing to do with Argentina, or the organizers, but Argentina have made it to the semis without really having to play anyone that could be considered a top side in this tournament. The FIFA World Rankings began in 1992 and since the 1994 World Cup, no team has reached a semifinal without playing a top 15 opponent. Argentina has played Algeria (28), Austria (24), Jordan (63), Cabo Verde (67), Egypt (29) and Switzerland (19) in this tournament. Call it the luck of the draw, but England is a top five team, and if Argentina are going to get to the final, they are going to have to earn it.

Starting XI: England

Thomas Tuchel has his XI for this semifinal match from Atlanta. It's Pickford in the goal with James, Stones, Guehi and Spence in the back with Anderson, Rice and Rodgers in the middle of the park. Gordon, Bellingham and Kane up top.

Last game: Argentina

Unlike the round of 16 match against Egypt, Argentina took the lead early on against Switzerland thanks to an Alexis Mac Allister header off a corner kick in the 10th minute. Switzerland would rebound and look the better side for large portions of the match until finally they leveled the game with a goal from Dan Ndoye in the 67th minute. Argentina looked on the ropes but a VAR review would lead to Breel Embolo being shown a second yellow for simulation and the Swiss were forced to play with a man down for the final 17 minutes of the 90 and into the extra time session. In extra time Julian Alvarez scored a golazo from outside the area, and Lautaro Martinez polished off the game with a stoppage time goal right before the final whistle to move Argentina one step closer to the final.

Last game: England

Thomas Tuchel said his team didn't play well against Norway in the quarterfinals from Miami, but Jude Bellingham played the hero for the second straight game. He scored both goals after Norway took an early lead in the 36th minute. Andreas Schjelderup nodded home a header to stun England, but Jude Bellingham leveled the score with a bit of brilliance in stoppage time of the first half. Norway would pack it in for the second half and England struggled to create chances. The match went to extra time and and in the third minute of the first session Bellingham was there to tuck home a rebound off a shot from Morgan Rogers and England held on to close out Norway and book their ticket to the semis.