By Francis Onyach - Reporter
USA, July 16 2026 - Defending champions Argentina produced a dramatic late comeback to defeat England 2-1 in the second semi-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, booking their place in Sunday's final against Spain.
Trailing for much of the second half after Anthony Gordon's opener for England, Lionel Scaloni's side refused to surrender. Goals from Enzo Fernández in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez in stoppage time completed a remarkable turnaround at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, keeping Argentina's dream of back-to-back World Cup titles alive.
The opening 45 minutes were a tense and tactical affair, with both teams cancelling each other out. England looked disciplined defensively, while Argentina enjoyed more possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances.
The breakthrough finally arrived ten minutes into the second half.
England launched a swift attack down the right flank, where Morgan Rogers delivered an inviting cross into the penalty area. Anthony Gordon timed his run perfectly before calmly finishing past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to hand the Three Lions a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute.
For much of the second half, England looked on course to reach their first World Cup final since 1966.
Rather than panic, Argentina gradually increased the pressure.
Lionel Messi began finding more space between England's midfield and defence, orchestrating wave after wave of attacks as Scaloni's men pinned England deep inside their own half.
England manager Thomas Tuchel responded by introducing more defensive players and switching to a back five in an attempt to protect the slender advantage.
The tactical change ultimately backfired.
Argentina's persistence finally paid off in the 85th minute.
After sustained pressure around England's penalty area, Lionel Messi slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Enzo Fernández, who unleashed a powerful strike beyond Jordan Pickford to bring Argentina level at 1-1.
The equaliser transformed the atmosphere inside the stadium, with Argentina's supporters sensing another famous comeback.
England barely had time to recover.
Deep into stoppage time, Messi once again proved decisive.
The Argentina captain created space on the right before delivering another dangerous ball into the penalty area. Lautaro Martínez, introduced from the bench, reacted quickest to convert from close range and complete a stunning comeback in the 92nd minute.
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The goal sparked wild celebrations among Argentina's players and supporters as the reigning champions secured a place in yet another World Cup final.
Although he did not score, Lionel Messi once again demonstrated why he remains one of football's greatest players.
The 39-year-old provided the assists for both Argentina goals, dictating the tempo during the closing stages and dragging his team back into a match that appeared to be slipping away.
With the victory, Messi moves one step closer to winning consecutive World Cup titles and adding another remarkable chapter to his legendary international career.
For England, the defeat was another painful near miss on the biggest stage.
The Three Lions defended resolutely for much of the contest and appeared to have one foot in the final after Gordon's goal. However, Argentina's relentless pressure eventually overwhelmed Tuchel's side.
After the match, Tuchel accepted responsibility for the tactical changes made late in the game, admitting that England became too passive after taking the lead and struggled to cope with Argentina's attacking momentum.
It marks another agonising World Cup semi-final exit for England, who were also eliminated at the same stage in 1990 and 2018.
Argentina's victory sets up a blockbuster 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain, who booked their place by defeating France 2-0 in the first semi-final.
The championship match will pit the tournament's most prolific attack against its stingiest defence.
Argentina have scored 19 goals on their way to the final and remain unbeaten throughout the tournament, while Spain have conceded just one goal and extended their unbeaten run to 37 matches.
For Argentina, victory would secure a fourth FIFA World Cup title and make them the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the men's World Cup trophy. Spain, meanwhile, are chasing their second world title after their historic triumph in 2010.
Champions often find a way to win even when defeat appears inevitable, and Argentina delivered another example of that quality in Atlanta.
Trailing with just five minutes of normal time remaining, Lionel Scaloni's side showed remarkable composure and resilience to overturn England's lead through two late goals inspired by Lionel Messi. The comeback not only preserved Argentina's hopes of retaining the World Cup but also set the stage for a mouthwatering final against Spain.
With history now within touching distance, the reigning champions head into Sunday's showpiece aiming to become the first team in more than six decades to win back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles.