FIFA WC 2026: Argentina stun England with stoppage time comeback, set up Spain final
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Atlanta: Holders Argentina produced a late comeback to beat England 2-1 and reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, setting up a showdown with Spain.
England took the lead when Chelsea’s Cole Gordon tapped home Morgan Rogers’ low cross, converting a well-timed run to put the Three Lions ahead. Argentina pressed for an equaliser and were rewarded in stoppage time at the end of normal time when Enzo Fernandez fired a powerful shot from outside the box past Jordan Pickford.
With the match heading for extra time, substitute Lautaro Martinez headed home Lionel Messi’s right-foot cross in the third minute of added time to complete the turnaround and send Argentina through.
The victory extends Argentina’s unbeaten run in World Cup semi-finals to six and makes them the sixth nation to win the World Cup and return to the final in the next edition. England, contesting their second semi-final in three tournaments, remain with a single World Cup final appearance (1966) after losses in 1990, 2018 and 2026.
The match was cagey for long stretches, with the first real chance arriving in the 33rd minute when John Stones nodded wide from a Declan Rice free-kick. Argentina threatened through Julian Alvarez early in the second half, forcing a near-post save from Pickford, but it was England who opened the scoring before Argentina’s late onslaught. Substitutes and returning starters played key roles for both sides: Morgan Rogers and Djed Spence featured prominently for England, while Nico Gonzalez and Martinez came off the bench for Argentina.
Lionel Messi, at 39 years and 21 days, became the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup semi-final.
Argentina will face Spain in the final in New York/New Jersey on Sunday.
(Inputs from IANS)