ENG vs ARG FIFA World Cup LIVE: Argentina beat England 2-1, Lionel Messi to play another final

Argentina have defeated England 2-1 to reach the final. They will take on Spain in the summit clash on the night of July 19. What a game we witnessed in Atlanta. Lionel Messi will have another crack at the greatest prize for a footballer. 

Ivan Toney and Marcus Rashford come in for Djed Spence and John Stones. 

Lautaro Martinez scores for Argentina in the 92nd minute. THIS IS BRILLIANT. Argentina stunned England.

Mac Allister hits the post again. 

Enzo Fernandes takes a long-range effort again and this time he scores. Animated celebration from him. Argentina draw level. The referee check for a possible off-side for Messi, but the goal stands. Multiple celebrations from Enzo. The Argentina fans are loud and proud now. 

Lionel Messi attempted a cross inside the box, but it was too heavy as the ball went out for a goalkick. Messi is disturbed by that. Argentina try to attack again. 

Reece James has been subbed off following the injury. Dan Burn replaces him in the middle. Nico O' Reilley also comes on for Declan Rice. England strengthen their defence. Five at the back now. 

Lautaro Martinez comes in for Tagliafico. A striker for a left-back! Argentina go all out now, with 10 mins remaining in Atlanta. 

Morgan Rogers built a counterattack from his own half. Kane and Bellingham were available for a pass, but it could have got tricky as Argentina players were around. Thus, Rogers take a shot all by himself, only for Argentina to block easily. 

The ball hit the post as England survive. Rodrygo de Paul's cross found Mac Allister inside the box, who hit the post instead. Pickford wasn't even close to save it. England are lucky. Moments later, Argentina build again, but Pickford saves well this time around. 

Ezri Konsa comes in for Antony Gordon. Argentina make three changes. Rodrygo de Paul, Nicholas Otamendi and Montiel come in for Lisandro Martinez, Nahuel Molina and Giuliano Simeone. 

Lionel Messi's cross from the wing found Nico Gonzalez in the box, who headed it on target. However, Jordan Pickford dived towards his right and managed to keep it out. It was mighty close. England keep hold of the lead as hydration break has been called. 

Argentina win a corner in the 68th minute. Lionel Messi takes it but nothing from it. Argentina try to build again and win another corner. This time from the right flank. Messi takes it, but England manage to keep it out once again . 

Declan Rice take a long-range effort but Martinez managed to keep his calm and collect it well. Jude Bellingham ran for the second ball, but nothing from that. Moments later, Harry Kane tried a long-range effort, nothing from it as well. 

Nico Gonzalez comes in for Pareedes. Argentina are looking for better creators. Nico will certainly try to solve the problem. However, he is not as effective as Paredes on the defensive side of the business. 

Argentina are giving all they have at the moment. They are pressing heavily. England will look for counters. Enzo took a long-range effort in the 61st minute of the game, but it went well over the post. It didn't trouble Pickford at all. 

Simeone was through with the ball and was only a shot away. However, Djed Spence arrived just in time and slide-tackled to keep the ball away. The England players celebrate the tackle. It was that good. They are charged up now. 

Antony Gordon has scored for England. Harry Kane placed well in the box and Gordon arrived in the second post to finish it. England lead 1-0. The fans are ecstatic. So are the players. What a moment for England. 

It's much better from Argentina in the second half. Paredes played a cross after a strong possession-based build-up, but no Argentina player to get in close to the ball. The ball went out of a goalkick. 

Cristian Romero has been booked following a foul on Jude Bellingham. The England midfielder was away with the ball, and the Spurs defender gave his all to stop him. Easy decision for the referee. England are looking lively now. 

Julian Alvaraz look dangerous. Julian Alvaraz shot one on target, but Jordan Pickford managed to keep it out. Argentina attacks again through Alvarez, and Pickford saves again. Lionel Messi took the free-kick, but Bellingham managed to deal with it. 

England kick off the affair, but hang on. England are gonna kick off again as the referee pulled them back. He hadn't whistled the first time around. England started after the countdown. 

Both England and Argentina players enter the field again for the second half. Will we see another feisty, cagey affair, or some better football from both football powerhouses? Jude Bellingham is spotted speaking to the referee again before the half begins. 

The first half ended 0-0. Lionel Messi, Harry Kane and their teammates immediately run to the referee to have a chat. Kane left early as Messi and Enzo keep having a chat. Jude Bellingham joined eventually. The fist fight needs to end. 

England were building well in the added time. However, Harry Kane was found offside. Tuchel, in the meantime, is preparing notes. He probably has a lot to tell to his players. 

Whenever England are keeping the ball in the build-up, Argentina are trying to be cheeky. This time, they play it long, but the plan doesn't work either. Three minutes have been added on. 

A yellow card has been shown to Lisandro Martinez. He pulled Morgan Rogers' shirt as England were building a counter in their own half. Martinez hides his face in embarrasment as he knows that the ref is right in this case. 

Argentina showing their prowess after Messi was brought down. They are controlling the possession as England are being moved aroumd. This it very good from Argentina and what was expected from them. England wait to regain control. 

Messi didn't take a chance at goal. He rolled it in as the ball eventually fell to Enzo Fernandes. He took a long-range shot, which was so close to the post. It flown over the bar as it's a goalkick for England. The score remains 0-0 after 38 mins. 

Finally, the first yellow card of the night. Elliot Anderson has been cautioned following a poor foul on Lionel Messi. The referee spoke at length with England captain Harry Kane, explaining the reason. Messi to take the free-kick. 

Reece James took a direct free-kick as Emi Martinez dealt well. England tried to attack again, but nothing from it. Argentina counters. 

Jude Bellingham has once again been brought down close to the box. This time by Molina. Messi looks frustated too. However, nice spell from England at the moment. 

Declan Rice drifted to the second post following a free-kick from the left flank. John Stones, in the meantime, failed to connect it as the ball went out for a goalkick. Moments later, Argentina attack again as Simeone fouls Guehi. 

Fomer England manager Fabio Capello and former Argentina forward Sergio Aguero are in the house. England, in the meantime, have won a foul following a foul on Jude Bellingham. Sarcastic claps from Thomas Tuchel. Can England make it count. 32 mins gone, it's 0-0. 

Thomas Tuchel is livid on the sidelines as Reece James has been brought down, but the referee didn't call for a foul. The referee has been strangely calm. The match, in the meantime, is growing well. Both teams trying to dominate the close spaces. 

The Real Madrid fans are not happy with Argentina players fouling Jude Bellingham. The game begins after the hydration break. 

Simeone, who is enjoying his first start in the FIFA World Cup 2026, won a corner following the free-kick. Messi placed the ball in the box, but the referee called for a free-kick immediately after Simeone fouled Pickford. He just didn't allow Pickford to move an inch. Hydration break has been called. 

Argentina are controlling the ball before the hydration break. England are on the edge of their seat, waiting for a counter-attack. The move ended with Jude Bellingham committing a foul. Lionel Messi to take the free-kick 

Reece James and Morgan Rogers connected well for an attack from the right flank. James eventually placed a low cross, but no England player to attack. Emi Martinez collected it with ease. The scoreline remains 0-0 after 20 mins. 

Djed Spence was looking strong on the left flank. England were building well, but Enzo defended brilliantly to take control before the ball went out for a goalkick. He shows a fistpump to the Argentina fans after a tackle to deal with it. 

Anthony Gordon cuts inside from the right, feinting to shoot as he tries to draw Argentina's defenders out of position while gliding along the edge of the penalty area. The move eventually runs out of space, however, with Argentina crowding him out before winning back possession.

This time, Jordan Pickford and Lisandro Martinez are engaged in a push fight. The game was not even on. Lisandro was carrying the ball away, which Pickford didn't like. He tried to have it to restart, which only ended with Lisandro falling on the ground. Goodness me!

Seven fouls have been committed in the first 10 minutes of the semi-final. No shots on target, though. It has been very, very silly and poor. The referee is still very calm. Thomas Tuchel is frustrated on the sidelines after the ninth foul on 12 minutes. 

Morgan Rogers wins a corner for England. Declan Rice delivers it, but Argentina manages to deal with that and tries to launch a counter-attack. Nothing from it though. The fighting needs to end. It has started to go ugly with those silly fouls. 

It has been fiesty so far. Both teams are going at each other, giving their all and eventually committing a foul. The referee has been calm so far, but he needs to take control of the game. Other than that, the pressing game has been so good. 

Enzo Fernandes and Jude Bellingham engage in a heated chat after Argentina complain of a foul not given on Lionel Messi. Messi is mocking someone on the field. The players separate Bellingham and Enzo. It's not even four minutes, but it has been fiesty. 

England have dominated possession in the opening exchanges, looking to quieten the passionate Argentina supporters inside the Atlanta stadium. Argentina, in the meantime, have engaged in silly fouls. 

While coming to Atlanta Stadium, England's bus deliberately overtook Argentina's bus. The video of the same went viral on social media.

Argentina kickoff the semi-final in Atlanta. They are attacking from left to right of the pitch. England in the opposite direction. The crowd remains electic, while Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham look super focused. 

Just before Argentina's national anthem, England fans boo heavily. That's not a good sign. They continue to do so throughout the anthem. Argentina are charged up with that. 

England, as they are the home team of the night, to sing the national anthem first. Argentina will follow them. If I haven't said it already, the crowd is loud and proud. As a viewer, you can't even hear the national anthem on TV. That's how loud it is. 

Both teams walk out of the tunnel in Atlanta. The crowd is electric as the game is set to begin in less than eight minutes. Shakira's Dei Dei plays in the background as they enter. National anthems up next. 

Lionel Messi (Argentina), 21

Kylian Mbappe (France), 20

Miroslav Klose (Germany), 16

Ronaldo (Brazil), 15

Harry Kane (England), 14

Gerd Müller (Germany), 14

Just Fontaine (France), 13

Pele (Brazil), 12

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), 11

Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany), 11

Sandor Kocsis (Hungary), 11

The players have started to gather inside the tunnel. We are only few minutes away before they arrive to the pitch and the action begins. Argentina are in their away kit, wearing 'lucky' dark blue colours against England, who are in white kits. 

England and Argentina have faced each other 14 times across competitive fixtures and friendly matches. England hold the advantage with six victories compared to Argentina’s three, while five encounters have ended in draws. They last faced each other in 2005. It means, Lionel Messi never played against England in his career. 

"They are specialists. They deserve to play. Reece has the quality to play at the highest level. He does not show any nerves. Djed, we want his speed and agility. He impressed in the last matches from the bench. We want the full-backs to be involved in the attack, that's why, Tuchel explains. 

Argentina topped Group J by beating Algeria, Austria and Jordan. In the round of 32, they were pushed to their limits before squeezing past Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time and came from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 in a controversial last-16 contest, which drew allegations of officiating bias. Against Switzerland in the quarterfinals, Argentina again played a full 120 minutes before securing a 3-1 win after extra time.

"It is a soccer match; we shouldn’t confuse the two," Scaloni insisted when faced with this clash of sport and politics. Meanwhile, Atlanta police have tightened security plans. The officials consider a potentially high-risk event because of the historic rivalry between the two nations. The arrangements are designed to ensure the safety of players, officials and thousands of supporters expected at the stadium.

"It's a feeling from the coach -- a gut feeling. I feel that he has something special to give today. I felt he was very strong in the match against Norway. In between, he had outstanding training sessions to follow up on that performance. It's just a feeling," Thomas Tuchel explained. 

Group stage

WON 4-2 vs. Croatia

DREW 0-0 vs. Ghana

WON 2-0 vs. Panama

Round of 32

WON 2-1 vs. Congo DR

Round of 16

WON 3-2 vs. Mexico

Quarterfinal:

WON 2-1 (AET) vs. Norway

"It is just my first World Cup as a coach, and it is very rare that you fly through a tournament and everything falls into place from match to match. We will prepare for the best version of Argentina – we expect and demand the best of ourselves. We have not peaked yet, but tomorrow’s match will bring the best out of us and we are excited," Tuchel said. 

Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolás Tagliafico; Giuliano Simeone, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez.

Jordan Pickford; Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Djed Spence; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson; Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon; Harry Kane

England take on Argentina in the second semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The winner of the match will take on Spain in the summit clash on the night of July 19. Both teams have announced their playing XIs for the high-voltage clash as they are currently engaged in light drills.