TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The rivalry between England and Argentina is set to unfold once again on the stage of the 2026 World Cup. The two teams will vie for a spot in the 2026 World Cup final in a semifinal match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States, on the early morning of Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 02:00 AM WIB (Western Indonesian Time). This will be the sixth meeting between the two countries in the World Cup finals.
Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni opted to downplay the tension ahead of the match. "This is a football match. They have a great coach. It's just a football game, that's all," Scaloni was quoted as saying by The Athletic.
England vs Argentina Prediction
The Opta Analyst sees this semifinal as one of the most balanced matches in the 2026 World Cup. In regular time, England has a 39.1 percent chance of winning, while Argentina has a 31.6 percent chance. The likelihood of the match ending in a draw and proceeding to extra time or penalties is at 29.3 percent.
When calculated based on the likelihood of advancing to the final, England is slightly favored. Thomas Tuchel's team has a 52.9 percent probability of winning, while Argentina has a 47.1 percent chance.
England Relies on Kane and Bellingham
England secured their spot in the semifinal after coming from behind to defeat Norway 2-1 in extra time. Jude Bellingham emerged as the star of the victory after scoring two goals. The Real Madrid midfielder has now scored two goals in each of his last two World Cup matches. Meanwhile, Harry Kane has also been consistent, collecting six goals throughout the tournament.
According to Opta, Kane and Bellingham are the first pair of players from the same country to each score at least six goals in one edition of the World Cup. If fielded in this match, Kane will make his 121st appearance for the England national team, making him the outfield player with the highest number of caps in the history of the England national team.
Reaching the semifinal also extends England's positive streak. Since 2018, The Three Lions have reached the semifinals of major tournaments four times, namely the World Cup and the European Championship, matching the number of semifinals they reached throughout their previous history.
Coach Thomas Tuchel now has the opportunity to end England's 60-year wait to win a major tournament. He also has the chance to become the fourth foreign coach to lead a country to the World Cup final after Ernst Happel, who took the Netherlands to the final in 1978.
Argentina Banks on Messi and the Most Prolific Forward Line
Argentina comes into the 2026 World Cup as the most productive team with a collection of 17 goals. One additional goal will equal their national record of 18 goals in one edition of the World Cup, set in 1930.
Lionel Messi is the driving force of La Albiceleste's attack. The Argentina captain has scored eight goals, the same number as Kylian Mbappe of France. When facing Switzerland in the quarterfinals, Messi failed to score but provided an assist for Alexis Mac Allister's goal.
According to Opta, Messi becomes the second player since 1966 to record at least 10 goal involvements in two editions of the World Cup, after Mbappe. Argentina also has a record of six consecutive victories, their longest winning streak in World Cup history.
The Reigning Champion with Room for Improvement
As the defending champion, Argentina has a strong historical foundation. They have won the World Cup three times and have always reached the final in five previous appearances in the semifinals. Scaloni also has the opportunity to become the second coach of Argentina after Carlos Bilardo to lead his country to two World Cup finals.
However, Argentina's performance has not been entirely convincing. When eliminating Switzerland, they struggled to dominate the game and defend. "Honestly, luck was on our side today. That's the reality," said Scaloni.
England's coach Thomas Tuchel also admitted that his team has not yet performed at their best when defeating Norway. "I'm not happy with our performance. Today we were fortunate," said Tuchel.
Head-to-Head Records
England has a better record in meetings against Argentina. Out of 14 matches, England has achieved six victories, six draws, and only two losses.
England's last defeat to Argentina in regular time occurred at the 1986 World Cup through a match that is memorable for Diego Maradona's controversial "Hand of God" goal. Since then, England has never lost to Argentina in 90 minutes in their last five meetings.
This semifinal marks the sixth meeting between the two countries in the World Cup. For Argentina, England is one of the most frequently faced opponents in the tournament. According to The Athletic, the England vs Argentina duel is not just a battle for a final ticket, but also the latest chapter in one of the most iconic rivalries in the history of world football.
Read: Top 5 Biggest Controversies of the 2026 World Cup
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