Argentina and England set for World Cup semifinal July 15

Argentina and England will meet in a highly anticipated FIFA World Cup semifinal on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The match pits the defending champion, led by the iconic Lionel Messi, against an England side seeking its first world title since 1966.

The semifinal marks a historic personal milestone for Messi, who at 39 years old will face England for the first time in his illustrious international career. The Argentine captain, who celebrated his birthday during the tournament, is tied for the tournament lead with eight goals. He also became just the fourth player to start four World Cup quarterfinals. His performance has been central to Argentina's run, which included a 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in the quarterfinals on July 11. England advanced with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time comeback win against Norway.

The encounter renews a storied football rivalry filled with memorable moments, from Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal in 1986 to England's penalty shootout defeat in 1998 and David Beckham's redemption penalty in 2002. The teams last met competitively at the 2002 World Cup. Their most recent match was a friendly in...