one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament, Argentina staged a remarkable late comeback to defeat England 2-1 in the semi-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing their place in the final for the second consecutive tournament.
Kabul 24: Lionel Scaloni’s side, who were trailing until the closing stages, showed incredible character and fighting spirit to turn the game around with two goals in the final minutes.The high-stakes encounter took place at Atlanta Stadium.
The first half was a tense, physical battle marked by numerous fouls and midfield skirmishes. Both teams were cautious, and clear goal-scoring opportunities were rare.
England relied on their physicality and organization, while Argentina looked dangerous on the counter-attack through moments of individual brilliance.
Despite the intensity, neither side managed to break the deadlock, and the match remained goalless at halftime.England took the lead in the 55th minute through a well-coordinated move.
Morgan Rogers and Anthony Gordon combined effectively to open the scoring, giving the Three Lions a valuable advantage. After taking the lead, England sat deeper and defended resolutely, attempting to frustrate Argentina and hit them on the break.
However, Argentina’s relentless pressure eventually paid dividends. In the 85th minute, Enzo Fernández unleashed a spectacular long-range strike that flew past the goalkeeper and into the net, leveling the score at 1-1. The equalizer injected fresh energy into the Argentine team and sent the crowd into a frenzy.
The drama reached its peak in added time. In the 92nd minute, Lionel Messi delivered a pinpoint cross from the right flank. Lautaro Martínez rose brilliantly and powered a header into the back of the net, completing a stunning turnaround and sending Argentina through to the final.
With this victory, Argentina will face Spain in the World Cup final on July 19. England, meanwhile, will contest the third-place playoff against France.
This result highlighted the never-say-die attitude of the Argentine team and reinforced one of football’s greatest truths: the game is never over until the final whistle.
Messi and his teammates are now just one match away from back-to-back World Cup glory, while millions of fans around the world eagerly await what promises to be an unforgettable final.
