In a semifinal clash that will go down in World Cup folklore, Argentina pulled off one of the most dramatic late turnarounds in modern tournament history, scoring two goals in the final seven minutes to topple England 2-1 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain.
The game got off to a bruising, cagey start, with both sides prioritizing defensive solidity over attacking flair in the opening 45 minutes. The two heavyweights combined for 19 fouls in a physical first half that ended goalless, with neither managing to force a single save from either goalkeeper.
The deadlock finally broke in the 54th minute, when winger Anthony Gordon tucked home a clinical finish from Morgan Rogers’ precision cross, putting England ahead and putting defending champions Argentina on the brink of elimination. For the next 30 minutes, England clung to their lead, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford turning in a man-of-the-match performance between the sticks, making a string of spectacular saves to shut down a wave of Argentine attacks. For England, it looked like the nation’s 60-year wait for a return to the World Cup final was finally coming to an end, the first since their iconic 1966 home triumph.
But Argentina’s never-say-die attitude turned the tide late. The equalizer arrived in the 85th minute, when captain Lionel Messi teed up midfield star Enzo Fernández just outside the 18-yard box. Fernández curled a spectacular long-range strike past the outstretched gloves of Pickford, leveling the score and forcing a stunned England side into panic mode.
As the clock ticked into second-half stoppage time and extra time loomed on the horizon, Messi once again orchestrated the decisive play. The Argentine captain sent a pinpoint cross to the back post in the 92nd minute, where substitute Lautaro Martínez rose above his marker to nod home the match-winning header, completing the incredible comeback.
With the historic semifinal victory, Argentina advances to the July 19 final at East Rutherford, New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, where they will face Spain. The South American side is now just one win away from making history: a victory would see them become the first nation to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil achieved the feat in 1958 and 1962. For England, however, the result is yet another devastating semifinal heartbreak, extending the nation’s agonizing wait for a second World Cup crown, a drought that has stretched all the way back to their 1966 victory.