England vs Argentina Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Semi-Final
Historic rivals England and Argentina renew hostilities for the first time in over 20 years as they face off in the semi-finals of FIFA World Cup 2026 in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport website & app / USA – FOX One
England preview: Exhausted but getting through
England have not convinced since a 15-minute spell at the start of the second half of their opening game against Croatia that they went on to win 4-2 in Dallas. The Three Lions, for a second successive tournament after their fortunate run at UEFA EURO 2024, have stumbled through the knockout stages but now find themselves in the final four.
In the knockout stages, England have come from behind to beat Congo DR before an energy-sapping and dramatic 3-2 win against co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City. They then needed extra-time to see off Norway in Miami.
Norway took the lead via a fortuitous Andreas Schjelderup goal and they should have doubled their lead with a couple of openings before Jude Bellingham once again put England on his back to equalise before half-time. Torbjorn Heggem had a goal disallowed in the second half and then Bellingham pounced on an Orjan Nyland spillage early on in extra-time to send England through to their fourth ever FIFA World Cup semi-final.
Argentina preview: Finding a way
Much like England, Argentina have been some way off being a team that have dominated others and convinced through the knockout stages, despite easing through a group consisting of Austria, Algeria and Jordan by winning three from three and scoring eight goals in the process.
The defending world champions needed extra-time to beat debutant minnows Cabo Verde before then coming from 2-0 down with just over 10 minutes of the 90 to go to defeat Egypt in the Round of 16 in Atlanta.
In the quarter-finals, the Argentinians were held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland in the 90 minutes, despite Breel Embolo being sent off after the second-half hydration break. Goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, Alvarez’ being a stunner, in the second half of extra-time, saw Argentina eventually push through against the unfortunate Swiss in Kansas City.
England team news: Rice a doubt
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences…
Jude Bellingham’s spot was in doubt before the tournament and, even after a slight disagreement in his post-match press conference with Thomas Tuchel’s critical comments of England’s performance, he has made a good claim to win the Golden Ball this summer as England’s talisman alongside captain Harry Kane.
Declan Rice, as Tuchel said, was bed-ridden for three days before the clash with Norway and was then withdrawn at half-time after an off-colour display. Marc Guehi and Reece James overcame fitness concerns and the latter may be the starter ahead of Rice in midfield here. Bukayo Saka should come back in for Noni Madueke on the right-wing.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Konsa, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly; James, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Unavailable: J. Henderson (Injured)
Questionable: Rice (Fitness)
Argentina team news: Keeping it the same
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences…
Facundo Medina has been named on the bench in the last couple of games due to an injury he sustained against Cabo Verde and so Nicolas Tagliafico is expected to keep his spot at left-back.
There will be a temptation for Lionel Scaloni to start all three of Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez but that would involve him dropping one of Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister or Enzo Fernandez - and that feels unlikely.
Predicted XI (4-1-2-1-2): E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico; Paredes; De Paul, Mac Allister; Fernandez; Messi, Alvarez
Unavailable:
Questionable:
England’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Jude Bellingham ($8.3m) – Midfielder
Anthony Gordon ($7.0m) – Midfielder
Harry Kane ($10.5m) – Forward
Matchday 7 captain pick: Jude Bellingham
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Harry Kane
Free kicks: Declan Rice
Corners: Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka
Argentina’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Cristian Romero ($4.9m) – Defender
Lionel Messi ($10.0m) – Forward
Julian Alvarez ($8.6m) – Forward
Matchday 7 captain pick: Lionel Messi
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Lionel Messi
Free kicks: Lionel Messi
Corners: Lionel Messi
Key stats
- This is the sixth World Cup meeting between the teams, with England having won three of the previous five, most recently a 1-0 victory in the 2002 group stage. Argentina came out on top in the 1986 quarter-finals and in a penalty shoot-out in the round of 16 at France 1998.
- Overall England have won six of their 14 encounters against Argentina (D6 L2). This is their first meeting since a 3-2 triumph for the English in a November 2005 friendly in Geneva.
- England have made it through to their fourth semi-final and their second in the last three editions.
- England are aiming to reach the final of the World Cup for the second time having previously done so 60 years ago in 1966 when they won the competition on home soil.
- England have won four successive World Cup encounters for the first time since a six-match run spanning their last five fixtures in 1966 and their opener in 1970.
- Jude Bellingham has found the net twice in each of England’s last two knockout-stage matches, becoming the first English player to do so at FIFA’s flagship men’s tournament.
- Most World Cup goals scored under the age of 24:
- 12 – Kylian Mbappé
- 7 – Pelé and Jude Bellingham
- 6 – James Rodríguez and Mario Kempes
- 12 of England’s 13 goals at the 2026 finals have been scored by Harry Kane (six) and Jude Bellingham (six), with Marcus Rashford the only other player to find the net.
- Argentina have successfully progressed from all their five World Cup semi-final ties.
- Argentina are undefeated in their last 12 FIFA World Cup matches (W10 D2), which extends the nation’s best-ever unbeaten run at the competition.
- Argentina have won six successive FIFA World Cup matches for the first time.
- Argentina have scored two or more goals in their last 12 games in the World Cup, surpassing the previous mark set by Uruguay between 1930 and 1954.
- The quarter-final was the 13th time that Argentina have gone into extra time in the FIFA World Cup – the most of any team in tournament history. They have prevailed in 11 of those 13 extra-time matches.
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England vs Argentina prediction
Ahead of the tournament, it was clear that the weak spot of England’s side was the defence, despite keeping eight clean sheets in eight games in UEFA qualification for the tournament. Their only clean sheets have come against Ghana and Panama, and they were perhaps fortunate to keep them in the group stages.
Similar can be said of Argentina, though. Lisandro Martinez has had a mixed tournament with some errors in the mix alongside some strong performances, while Cristian Romero is, at his best, supreme but, perhaps more often, fairly chaotic.
A long evening may well be in store with England and Argentina both requiring extra-time at the weekend and neither seeming capable of simply blowing anyone away at the moment, let alone each other. Both teams scoring is a good bet given the defensive weaknesses of both and the attacking prowess that they possess.
England vs Argentina betting tip: Both teams to score
