After England vs Argentina: Late comeback sends champions to final

Two goals in seven minutes turned a 1-0 deficit into a dramatic Argentina victory over England in Atlanta on Wednesday, July 15. Enzo Fernández struck in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martínez scored the winner in stoppage time, with Lionel Messi supplying the assist on the decisive goal. The result sends the defending champions into the World Cup final against Spain on Sunday, July 19.

The Bottom Line

• Argentina came from behind to defeat England after trailing 1-0 for most of the match.
• Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th minute with a shot from beyond the box.
• Lautaro Martínez scored in stoppage time, seven minutes after Fernández's goal.
• Messi assisted the winning goal in his first career match against England.
• Argentina will face Spain in the final on Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m. ET in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Breaking It Down

The semifinal began as a tense, physical contest rather than an open attacking display. The first half ended 0-0 without a shot on goal, even though the teams combined for 19 fouls. England committed seven and Argentina 12, while each side received one yellow card before halftime.

Jude Bellingham was fouled by Leandro Paredes just two minutes in, and Elliott Anderson's early challenge on Messi helped set the tone for repeated confrontations. Anderson and Enzo Fernández clashed again in the 13th minute, with Morgan Rogers and Paredes also joining the exchange. Argentina held 56 per cent possession in the first half, but neither team converted its territorial pressure into a clear attempt on target.

England eventually moved ahead and protected that lead for most of the match, but Argentina's pressure finally produced a breakthrough late. Fernández drove in the equalizer from outside the penalty area in the 85th minute. Then, deep into stoppage time, Martínez finished the comeback after Messi created the chance.

The turnaround was especially sharp because England had been within minutes of reaching the final. Instead, Argentina advanced with the kind of late response expected from a team defending the title. The match also extended a rivalry that had not appeared at a World Cup since England's 1-0 group-stage win in 2002.

Why This Matters

For Argentina, the victory keeps alive a bid to win consecutive World Cups and adds another dramatic chapter to a rivalry shaped by six decades of controversy. Previous meetings included Antonio Rattin's dismissal in 1966, Diego Maradona's “Hand of God” goal in 1986 and David Beckham's red card in 1998. This semifinal produced a different defining image: a champion turning the match in the final minutes.

Canadian viewers have a direct stake in this tournament because the 2026 World Cup is being staged across Canada, the United States and Mexico. The semifinal itself was played indoors at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, avoiding the heat and thunderstorm risks that have affected other matches. Outside, Atlanta faced warm, humid conditions and a rising chance of thunderstorms after kickoff.

Stoppage time

Minutes added at the end of a half to account for delays during play.

Semifinal

The match that determines which team advances to the tournament final.

What Comes Next

Argentina will meet Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m. ET. The match is scheduled for MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

England's tournament ends after a semifinal in which the team led for most of the game but conceded twice in the closing minutes. Argentina now has the chance to add another title after entering the tournament as defending champion.