Argentina pulled off a stunning late comeback to beat England 2-1 in a dramatic FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final at Atlanta Stadium, with Enzo Fernandez’s brilliant 85th-minute equaliser cancelling out Anthony Gordon’s opener before Lautaro Martinez headed a 92nd-minute winner.
England, aiming for a first World Cup final since 1966, had taken the lead early in the second half through Gordon and looked set to reach the showpiece until Fernandez let fly from distance to change the entire complexion of the tie.
With the momentum shifted, Argentina poured forward and Lionel Messi delivered an inch-perfect cross for substitute Martinez to nod home deliriously in stoppage time, sending the holders into a second successive final.
How the drama unfolded
England had deployed a defensive 4-2-3-1 system and frustrated Argentina for long periods. Gordon, starting on the right of the attacking trio, broke the deadlock with a clinical finish shortly after the restart. Backed by heroic displays from Jordan Pickford and full-back Djed Spence – who produced a Bobby Moore-esque tackle to deny Simeone – England repelled wave after wave of Argentine pressure.
However, manager Thomas Tuchel’s decision to make a series of defensive substitutions invited Argentina onto his side. With England sitting deeper, the warning signs grew. Messi began to dictate play and the equaliser came when a half-cleared ball fell to Fernandez 25 yards out. The Chelsea midfielder unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner, leaving Pickford no chance.
Suddenly, Argentina believed. England, stunned, could not regain their composure. In the second minute of added time, Messi – who had been quiet before the late flurry – crossed from the right and Martinez arrived at the far post to head past a helpless Pickford.
Player ratings reflect England agony
The Guardian’s player ratings told the story of fine margins. Spence earned an 8 for his defensive heroics, while Pickford’s 7 even included a “sensational save from González.” But the night belonged to Argentina’s match-winners, with Fernandez and Martinez becoming instant legends.
“England missed out on their first World Cup final since 1966 after a stunning late turnaround,” reported Sky Sports. “Two goals in seven minutes saw a remarkable comeback from Argentina.”
What next? How to watch the remaining matches
England will now face France in Saturday’s third-place play-off – officially called the bronze final – at 22:00 BST. Argentina meet Spain in Sunday’s final with an 20:00 BST kick-off. Both matches will be shown live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live. ITV will also broadcast the final live. Full coverage details, including live text and in-game clips, are available on the BBC Sport website. For viewers outside the UK, broadcast schedules are yet to be confirmed.
The final marks a repeat of the 2010 showpiece and pits the reigning champions against a free-scoring Spain side that eliminated France 2-0. A fascinating tactical battle awaits.
