One of the most intense rivalries in international soccer added a dramatic new chapter on Wednesday as defending World Cup champions Argentina rallied to edge England 2-1 in Atlanta, Georgia. The victory secures Argentina a spot in Sunday's final at MetLife Stadium, where they are set to face Spain, who defeated France 2-0 on Tuesday. England, meanwhile, will compete against France on Saturday in the third-place match.
The semifinal was a chippy, tense affair defined more by a war of attrition than free-flowing soccer. The first half ended scoreless, but the physical nature of the game saw the teams combine for 19 fouls and two yellow cards. Referee Ismail Elfath was forced to pause play briefly just minutes into the match in an attempt to calm the players, though the physical style of play persisted throughout the evening.
England broke the deadlock in the 55th minute when left winger Anthony Gordon chipped in a cross from Morgan Rogers to give the Three Lions a 1-0 lead. In an effort to protect that advantage, England coach Thomas Tuchel made tactical adjustments, swapping defender Reece James for Dan Burn and midfielder Declan Rice for defender Nico O'Reilly in the 82nd minute to build a defensive wall.
However, Argentina’s resilience proved superior as they mounted a late comeback.
In the 85th minute, midfielder Enzo Fernandez leveled the score with a stunning strike from just outside the penalty area. The momentum shifted entirely to La Albiceleste, and in stoppage time, substitute Lautaro Martinez sealed the win with a close-range header, assisted by legendary striker Lionel Messi.
Following the final whistle, Messi was seen sharing handshakes and hugs on the pitch with England captain Harry Kane and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
While Argentine players celebrated by singing in front of their fans, many England players stood in shock on the field, and a large portion of their supporters exited the stadium immediately.
Messi is now aiming to lead Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup title, a feat not achieved since Brazil won in 1958 and 1962. The 39-year-old, who is one of only two players to compete in six men's World Cups alongside Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, remains tied for the tournament lead with eight goals. For England, the wait for their first World Cup title since 1966 continues.
The match was played against a backdrop of historical tension, referencing the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal where Diego Maradona scored his infamous "Hand of God" goal against England. Ahead of the game, Argentine Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva announced that fans would be prohibited from carrying flags or banners incorporating images of the Falkland Islands, citing FIFA's code of conduct regarding politically divisive content.
This decision sparked a social media backlash in Buenos Aires, as the islands—known as the Malvinas in Argentina—are considered essential to the nation's identity. Argentine Vice President Victoria Villarruel had also characterized the match earlier in the week as a fight against "usurping pirates," further highlighting the sensitivity surrounding the 1982 war over the British protectorate.
