World Cup 2026: Argentina beats England and reaches the final

Defending champions Argentina have secured their place in the 2026 World Cup final after a dramatic comeback victory over England. The semi-final match, held in Atlanta, saw England take the lead in the second half before Argentina staged a furious late rally to win 2-1.

England's Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 55th minute, seemingly putting the Three Lions on course for the final. However, Argentina, spurred on by their attacking prowess, refused to yield. The tide turned in the final minutes of the match.

Enzo Fernández equalized for Argentina in the 85th minute, shifting the momentum decisively. Just moments before the final whistle, Lautaro Martínez scored the winning goal in second-half stoppage time (90+2), completing Argentina's stunning turnaround. Lionel Messi was instrumental in setting up both goals.

Argentina, managed by Lionel Scaloni, will now face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday. England, whose only previous World Cup final appearance resulted in a victory 60 years ago, once again fall short in the semi-final stage. The match itself was characterized by intense play, with numerous fouls and interruptions early on, before opening up with more significant chances in the second half.

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Argentina beat England 2-1 and are in the World Cup final.