Argentina beats England 2-1 to reach the World Cup final in thrilling comeback
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Argentina, never say die.
The Argentines once again came from behind, this time against England, and won the World Cup semi-final 2-1, keeping their dream of becoming champions alive again. Argentina remained off the scoresheet for 85 minutes and eventually leveled the score at 1-1 when Lionel Messi positioned Enzo Fernandez just outside the penalty area and the 25-year-old curled a shot goalwards around England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Lautaro Martinez then played the hero, coming off the bench and entering Argentinian football lore and scoring the winning goal at the stop. In the 92nd minute, Messi made his second assist by collecting the loose ball and making a beautiful pass into the penalty area where Martinez was waiting unmarked. Martinez passed Pickford to send the Argentine fans into a frenzy as he completed the comeback.
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Argentinian Lautaro Martinez scores his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Alex Livesey/Danehouse/Getty Images)
England tried to extend the remaining time but could not get a quality chance.
According to the FOX broadcast, the first half was largely uneventful as it was the first game since 1966 in which both teams failed to register a field goal in the first half.
Anthony Gordon started the scoring by burying Morgan Rogers’ cross to put England first with an acrobatic finish in the 55th minute. Harry Kane sparked the counter-kick with a long pass that stunned the Argentinian defense for the first time all match.
However, this would be the Three Lions’ only real scoring opportunity of the game. Once England got on the board, Argentina’s pressure was relentless, but England managed to fend off Argentina’s attack for nearly 30 minutes.
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Argentinian Enzo Fernandez scores past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP)
England defender Djed Spence kept Argentina off the field with a brilliant tackle in the 58th minute after a clearance from Giuliano Simeone.
Argentina goalkeeper Emilio Martinez made his first save against Declan Rice in the 66th minute, keeping the score at 1-0 and avoiding putting Argentina in a multi-goal hole. After the save, Argentina responded quickly and returned to the attack.
Pickford, England’s all-time leader in games played at the World Cup, made a remarkable save on the goal line from Nicolás González’s header just before the hydration break, giving England a 1-0 lead.
Alexis Mac Allister kept the pressure on for Argentina with a header in the 76th minute. Pickford made his fourth save of the game in the 86th minute when he stopped Fernandez’s shot, but the Argentine took the lead later in the minute.
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Argentinian Enzo Fernandez reacts after Argentina beat England in the World Cup semifinals in Atlanta on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Jacob Kupferman/AP)
From a corner kick, Messi placed Fernandez just outside the penalty area and the 25-year-old shot goalwards around Pickford.
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With this win, Argentina had the opportunity to become the first back-to-back World Cup winners since Brazil won in 1958 and 1962.
They will face Spain in the final on Sunday at 15.00 on FOX.
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