England vs Argentina – Match preview and team news

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15 July 2026

Atlanta Stadium hosts the second

World Cup

semi-final on Wednesday evening as

England

and

Argentina

renew a rivalry dormant for 21 years, with a place in the final against Spain at MetLife Stadium on Sunday the prize.

Spain confirmed their place in the final on Tuesday, beating France 2–0 at Dallas Stadium — Oyarzabal’s 22nd-minute penalty and Porro’s 58th-minute strike ending France’s tournament in dominant fashion.

now know what awaits the winner.

The fixture carries a weight no other international contest can match. The Hand of God. The Goal of the Century. Rattin in 1966. Owen in 1998. Each meeting has produced moments that scar and define generations.

have won six of the previous 14 meetings and lost only twice.

have never lost a

semi-final in five previous appearances.

Tuchel is without the suspended Jarell Quansah and the injured Jordan Henderson, who remains sidelined with a broken wrist. Otherwise, the squad is fit. Declan Rice has fully recovered from the stomach illness that restricted him to 45 minutes against Norway and is confirmed to start.

Reece James, returning from his hamstring problem, is expected to start at right back. Bukayo Saka, who managed carefully throughout the tournament, is expected to start after making a decisive impact from the bench against Norway.

Harry Kane

earns his 121st cap on Wednesday, surpassing Wayne Rooney as the most-capped

outfield player in history.

Scaloni faces selection decisions rather than injury concerns. Cristian Romero came off at half-time of extra time against Switzerland due to exhaustion, and Facundo Medina is pushing to start in his place. Both Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez scored in extra time against Switzerland, giving Scaloni a difficult choice about whom to partner Messi up front.

Reports from

suggest Scaloni trialled a back three in training, though sources close to the squad dismiss this as unlikely. The midfield four of Paredes, De Paul, Fernandez and Mac Allister is expected to remain. Messi, who has never faced

in his career, starts regardless.

Six wins from seven

matches, with the draw against Ghana the only dropped points. The knockout campaign has been defined by Bellingham — two goals against Mexico, two more against Norway — as

beat Mexico 3–2 with ten men before defeating Norway after extra time in Miami.

Kane and Bellingham each have six tournament goals.

have not always been convincing, but have won every knockout match and arrive in Atlanta one game from their first

final since 1966. The winner faces Spain, who conceded just once across seven matches.

Six wins from six, 17 goals scored — one short of their own all-time record. Each knockout match has brought drama: Against Cape Verde required extra time, Egypt required a comeback from 2–0 down with 11 minutes left, and ten-man Switzerland required extra time before Álvarez’s stunning strike settled it.

The Swiss quarter-final was the first match at this tournament where Messi did not score — he contributed the assist for Mac Allister’s opener instead.

have scored three goals in each of their last four matches and have never lost a

semi-final. This is the first time in Messi’s career that he will face

England predicted XI (4-2-3-1):

Pickford; James, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane

Argentina predicted XI (4-4-2):

E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico; Paredes; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez

The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with coverage starting at 19:00 BST.

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