ATLANTA, July 16 — Argentina have booked their place in a second consecutive FIFA World Cup final after another trademark late comeback, coming from behind to beat England 2-1 in Wednesday’s semi-final at Atlanta Stadium. The defending champions will now face Spain in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Lionel Scaloni’s side chasing a fourth World Cup title and back-to-back crowns for the first time in 70 years.
A cagey first half gives way to late drama
The match started tightly, with both sides more focused on stopping the other than creating chances. England broke the deadlock in the 55th minute when Anthony Gordon smashed home after being picked out by Morgan Rogers’ pinpoint delivery. Argentina pushed hard for an equaliser, and Alexis Mac Allister saw a thumping header crash off the inside of the post as England held firm defensively.
But Argentina scored two late goals to topple England, extending the Three Lions’ six-decade wait for another World Cup trophy. Enzo Fernández swept in the equaliser from outside the box in the 85th minute off a pass from Messi, before substitute Lautaro Martínez headed home the winner in the 92nd minute, with Messi again providing the assist.
Messi’s fingerprints on both goals
Although he did not get on the scoresheet himself, Messi was central to both strikes, continuing his influential run through the tournament. According to broadcast statistics, Argentina had scored nine goals after the 75th minute at this World Cup before the England match — now ten, following Fernández’s late equaliser. The result continues a pattern of dramatic escapes for Argentina, who had already survived scares against Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland earlier in the knockout rounds.
Martínez said after the match that he had told teammate Mac Allister beforehand he believed he would come on and win the game, a promise he delivered on in stoppage time.
Heartbreak for England
For England, the defeat marks a third semi-final exit at the World Cup, following losses to West Germany in 1990 and Croatia in 2018. Captain Harry Kane said the team worked hard to get to this stage and was left gutted for the players, staff and fans, while acknowledging England remains close but still searching for the missing piece to go all the way. Manager Thomas Tuchel’s decision to shift into a more defensive posture after taking the lead has already drawn scrutiny, with critics pointing to a similar tactical pattern that cost his Bayern Munich side a Champions League semi-final in 2024.
England will play France, who lost 2-0 to Spain in the other semi-final, in Saturday’s third-place match.
Final preview: Spain vs Argentina, July 19
Spain reached the final by beating France 2-0 on Tuesday, setting up a title decider between Argentina, defending its crown, and Spain, chasing only its second World Cup title. The final kicks off Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
At 39, Messi is widely expected to be playing in his last World Cup, and a win on Sunday would cement his case as the greatest player of all time while making Argentina only the third nation to win back-to-back titles, after Italy and Brazil