England will face Argentina in the FIFA World Cup semifinal on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, with hopes of reaching the final for the first time since 1966. The Three Lions have been led in the tournament by Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, each scoring six goals.

Manager Thomas Tuchel, formerly of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich, spoke to reporters in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 14, stating he does not feel burdened by the weight of history as he aims to lead England to their first World Cup final in 60 years. Tuchel also said he does not feel extra pressure ahead of the match and will not use the rivalry between England and Argentina as motivation for his team.

Remarkably, this semifinal will mark the first time Lionel Messi, at 39 years old, faces England in a World Cup match despite the fixture's historic significance. Argentina previously won a notable encounter on penalties 12 years ago after David Beckham was sent off for kicking Diego Simeone.

Meanwhile, Spain has reached the World Cup final by defeating France 2-0, and other semifinalists like Mbappe have expressed disappointment over their losses. Argentina has expressed satisfaction with reaching the semifinal stage.

Sources