Update: Argentina are through. Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez won it in the 90th+2 to complete a 2-1 comeback over England, who had led through Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute strike. Argentina now face Spain in Sunday’s final. This fixture has always had its own soundtrack regardless of the result — anthems, terrace chants, one devastating fan-written ballad, and forty years of history that goes well beyond football. Here’s the full story, plus where the final story picks up next.
Quick Facts
| Match | England vs Argentina |
| Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026 — Semi-final |
| Venue | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Date | Wednesday, July 15, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 3:00 PM ET |
| Referee | Ismail Elfath |
| Meetings at World Cups | 6th (1962, 1966, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2026) |
| Winner faces | Spain in the Final — MetLife Stadium, Sunday, July 19 |
A Rivalry Written in History, Not Just Football
England and Argentina don’t need a big occasion to hate playing each other, but a World Cup semi-final is about as big as it gets. This is only their sixth meeting at the tournament, and the first two are the reason the fixture carries weight far beyond the pitch.
The defining chapter is Mexico 1986: four years after the Falklands War, Argentina beat England 2-1 in the quarter-final at the Estadio Azteca, and Diego Maradona scored both goals within four minutes of each other. The first was the blatantly illegal “Hand of God”, punched past goalkeeper Peter Shilton; the second, seconds later in football time but forever in memory, was the “Goal of the Century” — a slalom run past five England players and Shilton himself. Maradona’s own joke — that it was scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God” — gave the moment its name.
Twelve years later, France 1998 gave the rivalry its second legend: David Beckham, kicking out at Diego Simeone after a foul, was sent off in a 2-2 Round of 16 thriller that also featured a wonder goal from a teenage Michael Owen. England went out on penalties, and Beckham wore the blame — and an effigy — for years afterward.
The Anthems Before Kickoff
Every England match opens with “God Save the King,” a solemn royal hymn that England has always shared uneasily with the rest of the UK. Argentina answers with the Himno Nacional Argentino, an 1813 independence-era anthem so long that only a shortened verse-and-chorus version is played today — and even that gets bellowed back at the players by 80,000 fans before a ball is kicked.
The Songs the Fans Are Singing
Anthems are just the opening act. England’s real terrace soundtrack is “Three Lions (It’s Coming Home),” the Baddiel/Skinner/Lightning Seeds classic that turns “thirty years of hurt” into a singalong every tournament, plus the borrowed Neil Diamond terrace staple “Sweet Caroline.” Argentina’s answer is “Muchachos,” the fan-rewritten 2022 anthem that name-checks Maradona “cheering from heaven” and Messi’s title dream — and, on the subject of Messi, there’s an entire back catalogue of chants written just for him.
The Soundtrack of the Whole Tournament
Beyond the two teams, this World Cup has its own official sound. Shakira and Burna Boy’s “Dai Dai” is the tournament’s official song, and streamer-turned-unlikely-football-fixture IShowSpeed even landed a track on the FIFA World Cup 2026 album. If today’s semi-final has you newly obsessed with football music, our best World Cup songs of all time ranking and our full history of World Cup anthems from 1962 to 2026 are the next rabbit holes to fall down.
What’s Next: A Star-Studded Final on July 19
Spain are already through, having beaten France 2-0 in the tournament’s other semi-final, and will wait at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, July 19 for whoever wins this one. It’s a rematch angle England fans won’t love — Spain beat England on penalties in the Euro 2024 final. Off the pitch, this final will make history of its own: FIFA has confirmed the World Cup final’s first-ever halftime show, headlined by Justin Bieber, BTS, Madonna, and Shakira.
Related World Cup Music
Want more from this World Cup’s soundtrack? Read up on the two anthems that opened this match — God Save the King and the Himno Nacional Argentino — or dive into the “Muchachos” story in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the England vs Argentina World Cup 2026 semifinal?
Argentina won 2-1. Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 55th minute, but Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th and Lautaro Martínez scored the winner in the 90th+2 minute. Argentina advance to face Spain in Sunday’s final — read the full final preview here.
What is the history between England and Argentina at the World Cup?
This is their sixth World Cup meeting. The rivalry is defined by 1986’s Maradona-inspired “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” (Argentina won 2-1) and 1998’s David Beckham red card, after which England lost on penalties.
What are England’s and Argentina’s national anthems?
England uses the UK’s “God Save the King.” Argentina plays a shortened version of the Himno Nacional Argentino, an 1813 independence-era anthem.
What songs do England and Argentina fans sing?
England fans sing “Three Lions (It’s Coming Home)” and “Sweet Caroline.” Argentina fans sing “Muchachos,” the 2022 fan-written anthem, plus a long list of chants specifically about Lionel Messi.
When and where is the 2026 World Cup final?
Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, against Spain. It will feature the first-ever World Cup final halftime show, headlined by Justin Bieber, BTS, Madonna, and Shakira.