Argentina edge England with two late World Cup goals

Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, overturning Anthony Gordon’s 55′ opener through Enzo Fernández’s 85′ equaliser and Lautaro Martínez’s dramatic 90’+2′ winner to book their place in the final.

For long stretches, this was a match played on Argentina’s terms, even if the scoreboard did not reflect that until late on. The South Americans controlled possession at 64.4 percent, won six corners to England’s two, and finished with 15 shots to five. England, though, stayed compact without the ball and looked to break quickly whenever space appeared.

The first half ended goalless, but not without warning signs. Argentina circulated the ball patiently and probed around England’s defensive block, while England struggled to keep it for sustained periods. The clearest moments before the interval were shaped more by pressure than precision, and the half also brought yellow cards for Elliot Anderson on 37′ and Lisandro Martínez on 42′. Cristian Romero then went into the book on 51′ as the contest became more tense after the restart.

England struck first on 55′ through Anthony Gordon, who gave his side a precious lead against the run of the overall shot and possession numbers. It was a clinical moment from one of England’s few attacking openings, and for a while it looked as if that goal might be enough to carry them to the final.

From there, Argentina pushed the pitch higher and increased the pressure. Their midfield began to pin England deeper, and the volume of attacking actions steadily rose as England were forced into longer defensive phases. Argentina’s patience finally paid off on 85′, when Enzo Fernández found the equaliser to make it 1-1 and swing momentum completely.

With extra time looming, Argentina kept coming. The decisive moment arrived in stoppage time when Lautaro Martínez rose to score with a header on 90’+2′, completing a remarkable late turnaround. After trailing for 30 minutes, Argentina had found the two goals they needed in the final stages, while England were left with little time to respond.

Key performers

Enzo Fernández was central to Argentina’s comeback, scoring the 85′ equaliser and helping drive the side forward from midfield when the match demanded urgency. Lautaro Martínez made the defining contribution with his 90’+2′ header off the bench, while Anthony Gordon looked England’s sharpest attacking threat and took his goal well on 55′.

Argentina’s wider control was also reflected in the team numbers. They placed five shots on target to England’s two and created 13 shot assists, a sign of how consistently they were able to work the ball into dangerous areas even before the late breakthrough arrived.

NerdSports Stat: Argentina had 64.4% possession, 15 shots and 13 shot assists, yet did not level the match until the 85th minute before completing the comeback seven minutes later in stoppage time.

This result sends Argentina into the FIFA World Cup 2026 final after one of the tournament’s most dramatic semifinals, while England’s campaign ends in narrow and painful fashion. Argentina now turn their attention to the showpiece fixture, carrying momentum from a comeback that underlined both their control and their composure under pressure.

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