Argentina Break England Hearts Again: The Late Rally, Messi's Shrug — and the Rivalry's New Chapter

FULL TIME (July 15): Argentina beat England with a late rally to reach the final — Messi was rated 9/10 and his “iconic shrug” instantly joined this rivalry's lore (per ESPN/FOX). The Hand of God history below just got a new chapter.

England vs Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semifinal kicks off Wednesday, July 15 at 3 p.m. ET at Atlanta Stadium — FIFA's name for Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. In the US it airs on FOX, streaming on the FOX One app, with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo and Peacock. It is also the first England-Argentina match in 21 years, in the rivalry that produced the Hand of God, the Goal of the Century and two iconic David Beckham moments. Football has no spicier international fixture.

What Time Is England vs Argentina? TV and Streaming

• Date and kickoff: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 — 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT (8 p.m. in the UK, 4 p.m. in Argentina)
• Venue: Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Atlanta, Georgia
• US TV: FOX (English), Telemundo (Spanish)
• Streaming: FOX One and the FOX Sports app; Peacock for Spanish; plus YouTube TV, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV

How They Got Here: Messi's Last Dance vs Bellingham's England

Argentina, the defending champions, beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 in extra time in Kansas City. Alexis Mac Allister struck early, Dan Ndoye equalized, and after Breel Embolo's second yellow, Julian Alvarez scored a 112th-minute stunner and Lautaro Martinez sealed it. Lionel Messi, now 39, is playing what is almost certainly his final World Cup — and he co-leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals, in what ESPN has called the form of his life.

England needed extra time too. Thomas Tuchel's side came from behind to beat Norway 2-1 in the Miami heat: Andreas Schjelderup shocked them early, Jude Bellingham equalized just before halftime, Norway had a second goal disallowed by VAR for an Erling Haaland foul, and Bellingham pounced on a goalkeeping error in extra time for his sixth goal of the tournament. England are one win from a first World Cup final in 60 years — full bracket in our tracker.

The Rivalry: Four Matches That Made This Fixture Legendary

1966: The "Animals" Quarterfinal

The grudge was born at Wembley. Argentina captain Antonio Rattin was sent off and refused to leave the pitch for nearly ten minutes. Geoff Hurst's late header won it 1-0, England manager Alf Ramsey called Argentina's players "animals" — a slur never forgotten in Buenos Aires — and England went on to lift their only World Cup.

1986: The Hand of God — and the Goal of the Century

The most famous quarterfinal ever, at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, four years after the Falklands War gave the fixture a weight beyond sport. In the 51st minute, Diego Maradona punched the ball past Peter Shilton — the referee missed it, and Maradona later credited "the hand of God." Four minutes later he scored the greatest goal in World Cup history, slaloming from his own half past half of England's team — officially voted FIFA's Goal of the Century in 2002. Gary Lineker pulled one back, Argentina won 2-1, and Maradona carried them to the title.

1998: Beckham's Red Card and Owen's Wonder Goal

A round-of-16 classic in Saint-Etienne: two penalties inside ten minutes (Gabriel Batistuta, then Alan Shearer), followed by 18-year-old Michael Owen's breathtaking solo goal. Just after halftime, David Beckham flicked a boot at Diego Simeone and was sent off. Ten-man England hung on through a disallowed Sol Campbell header, but Paul Ince and David Batty missed in the shootout and Argentina won 4-3 on penalties. Beckham spent the next year as England's national villain.

2002: Beckham's Revenge Penalty

Four years later in Sapporo, Beckham got his moment: Owen was brought down by Mauricio Pochettino — yes, that Pochettino — and Beckham hammered the penalty down the middle just before halftime. England won 1-0, Argentina crashed out in the group stage, and one of sport's great redemption arcs was complete.

England vs Argentina Head-to-Head Record

• All official meetings: 13 — England 6 wins, Argentina 2, draws 5
• At World Cups: 5 meetings — England won in 1962, 1966 and 2002; Argentina won in 1986; the 1998 draw went to Argentina on penalties
• Last meeting: November 2005 friendly in Geneva — England won 3-2
• Wednesday: their sixth World Cup meeting, and the first since 2002

Predictions: Who Is Favored?

It is close to a coin flip. Sports Illustrated reports England opened as narrow favorites, around -125 to -130 to advance, with Argentina near even money, while bet365 prices England at 8/11 to reach the final. Expect goals: as odds site ThatsAGoal notes, every knockout game both teams have played at this World Cup has gone over 2.5 goals.

What the Winner Gets

A place in the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, against the winner of Tuesday's other semifinal — our full France vs Spain preview. For England, it would be a first final since 1966. For Argentina, a shot at back-to-back titles — something no nation has done since Brazil in 1962 — and the chance for Messi to end his World Cup story exactly where it peaked.

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