Argentina are back in the World Cup final. Lionel Messi assisted both goals as Argentina came from behind
to beat England 2-1 in Wednesday's semi-final in Atlanta, with Anthony Gordon opening the scoring in the
55th minute before Enzo Fernandez levelled in the 85th and Lautaro Martinez struck the winner in second-half
stoppage time. The defending champions now face Spain in Sunday's final, while England drop into Saturday's
third-place match against France in Miami.
If you were tracking this on Fotmob or Sofascore, you already know how it ended. But here's the full
picture, plus what it means for football fans on this side of the Atlantic.
How the semi-final unfolded
The first half was cagey - genuinely goalless in terms of clear chances, with neither side managing a shot
in the opening 30 minutes, the first time both teams had gone that long without a shot to start a World Cup
match since 1966. Thomas Tuchel's England grew into the game and broke the deadlock through Anthony Gordon,
who finished off a Morgan Rogers cross.
That lead didn't survive contact with Messi. Argentina's talisman set up both of Argentina's goals with
crosses, first for Enzo Fernandez's header in the 85th minute, then for Lautaro Martinez's stoppage-time
winner. It's the latest instalment of a pattern this tournament - Scaloni's side finding a way late, no
matter how the game is going.
Tuchel didn't hide from the result afterward. "In the moment, no regrets," he said, adding that his team had
played close to its best but couldn't get over the line.
The numbers behind the headlines
This was Messi's tournament to shape. He entered the semi-final as the Golden Boot frontrunner with eight
goals, and Argentina came in as the tournament's highest-scoring side with 17 goals in total - a mark that's
now been added to. On the other side, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham had each scored six goals for England,
the first time two players from the same nation have both hit six goals at a single World Cup.
For England, this is familiar territory dressed up in new disappointment. England hasn't reached a World Cup
final since it won the tournament in 1966, and this loss follows a semi-final exit to Croatia in 2018 and a
quarter-final finish in 2022. The Argentina rivalry itself hadn't been renewed at senior level in over two
decades - this was their first meeting in 21 years, with the sides having previously clashed at World Cups
in 1962, 1966, 1986, 1998 and 2002.
Next on the World Cup calendar
Sunday, July 19 is now the date every football fan in Ghana needs circled. Spain, who beat France 2-0 in
the first semi-final, will face Argentina in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
It's a repeat shot for Spain, who are back in a World Cup final for the first time since 2010.
England's consolation fixture comes first. The Three Lions play France in the third-place match on Saturday,
July 18, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Not the game anyone in an England shirt wanted to be playing, but a
chance for Kane to add to his tally before the tournament ends.
As of the evening of July 15, 2026 (Ghana time), all results above are confirmed final scores from FIFA's
official match centre and are not in dispute.
What to watch next: England vs France for third place on Saturday, July 18 (Miami), followed by Argentina vs Spain in the final on Sunday, July 19 (East Rutherford). Watch for team news around Messi's fitness after a physically brutal semi-final, and whether Scaloni rotates his backline against a Spain side that's kept six clean sheets this tournament.