Argentina will compete for the 2026 World Cup title after a thrilling 2-1 victory against England in the semi-final on Wednesday, July 15.

The match, held at New York-New Jersey Stadium, saw Argentina overcome an early deficit to secure their place in the final. This marks another significant step for the defending champions, who were considered favorites entering the tournament.

England took the lead in the 55th minute with a goal from Anthony Gordon. Argentina equalized in the 85th minute through Enzo Fernández. The decisive blow came in stoppage time, with Lautaro Martínez scoring the winning goal to seal the 2-1 victory.

Argentina will now face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday, July 19. The match is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. ET. England, meanwhile, will play for third place against France on Saturday, July 18.

This World Cup is widely anticipated to be the last appearance for Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who has represented his country on the global stage for two decades. Messi and Argentina achieved victory in the 2022 World Cup, triumphing over France in a penalty shootout.

The semi-final clash between Argentina and England was a tightly contested affair, reflecting the historical rivalry between the two footballing nations. Both teams showcased strong defensive efforts in the first half, resulting in a scoreless opening 45 minutes.

England's opening goal by Gordon injected urgency into the game, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion. Fernández's late equalizer brought the score level, before Martínez's stoppage-time goal sent Argentina through.

The final match between Argentina and Spain promises to be a captivating encounter, with both teams having navigated challenging paths to reach this stage. The outcome will determine the champion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.