Argentina rose again when the match appeared to be slipping away. The national team defeated England 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and qualified for the 2026 World Cup final, where they will face Spain with the chance to defend the title won in Qatar in 2022.
The semifinal remained tight throughout the first half, with few clear opportunities and an intense battle in midfield. The balance was broken in the 54th minute, when Anthony Gordon completed an English attack and put the European side ahead.
The setback forced Argentina to increase the tempo. Lionel Scaloni’s team pushed higher, added more presence near the opposition penalty area and maintained the pressure until the equaliser arrived in the 85th minute. Lionel Messi assisted Enzo Fernández, who controlled the ball and finished across goal for 1-1.
The comeback was completed in stoppage time. In the 91st minute, Lautaro Martínez appeared inside the box and scored the 2-1 winner that triggered the Argentine celebration in Atlanta. In only six minutes, the team transformed provisional elimination into another World Cup qualification.
The result sends Argentina into a second consecutive final and keeps the possibility of back-to-back titles alive. The team once again showed its ability to compete under pressure and find solutions during the most demanding phase of a decisive match.
Spain will be the final obstacle. The title match will be played on Sunday, 19 July, at 4:00 p.m. Argentine time and will bring together the reigning world champions and a Spanish side arriving after a 2-0 victory over France. Argentina will have another opportunity to turn resilience, talent and character into a new page of history.
