England v Argentina Head-to-Head at a Glance
| Overall Head-to-Head Record | England: 6 Wins • Argentina: 3 Wins • Draws: 6 |
| First Meeting | 14 May 1951 |
| Matches Played | 15 |
| England Goals | 22 |
| Argentina Goals | 16 |
| First World Cup Meeting | 1966 FIFA World Cup Quarter-final |
| Last Meeting | 15 July 2026 – FIFA World Cup Semi-final - England 1-2 Argentina |
England v Argentina
ENG 1-2 ARG
England scorers: Anthony Gordon (55)
Argentina scorers: Enzo Fernández (85), Lautaro Martínez (90+2)
Argentina came from behind to win, with Enzo Fernández equalising and Lautaro Martínez heading a stoppage-time winner, both assisted by Lionel Messi. England's overall record against Argentina now reads P15 W6 D5 L4. Argentina advance to the World Cup Final against Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday 19 July. The full line-ups, goalscorers and match details have been added to the head-to-head table below.
Starting Lineups
England Team
Manager: Thomas Tuchel
Formation: 4-2-3-1
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Jordan Pickford |
| RB | Reece James |
| CB | John Stones |
| CB | Marc Guéhi |
| LB | Djed Spence |
| DM | Declan Rice |
| DM | Elliot Anderson |
| RW | Morgan Rogers |
| CAM | Jude Bellingham |
| LW | Anthony Gordon |
| ST | Harry Kane |
Argentina Team
Manager: Lionel Scaloni
Formation: 4-4-2
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Emiliano Martínez |
| RB | Nahuel Molina |
| CB | Cristian Romero |
| CB | Lisandro Martínez |
| LB | Nicolás Tagliafico |
| RM | Giuliano Simeone |
| CM | Leandro Paredes |
| CM | Alexis Mac Allister |
| LM | Enzo Fernández |
| ST | Lionel Messi |
| ST | Julián Álvarez |
The Road to Atlanta
England topped Group L with wins over Croatia (4-2) and Panama (2-1) either side of a goalless draw with Ghana, then beat DR Congo 2-1, survived a red card to beat Mexico 3-2 at the Azteca, and edged Norway 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-final thanks to a Jude Bellingham double. Argentina won all three Group J games against Algeria, Austria and Jordan, before beating Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time, coming from two goals down to defeat Egypt 3-2, and seeing off Switzerland 3-1 in extra time.
How the Semi-Final Unfolded
Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute, turning home Morgan Rogers' cross, and Tuchel's side looked set to reach a first final in 60 years. Argentina, the reigning world champions who had never lost a World Cup semi-final, responded late. Enzo Fernández levelled from the edge of the box in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martínez headed the winner in stoppage time, with Lionel Messi providing both assists in a match he began having never previously faced England. It was the sixth World Cup meeting between the sides, following 1962, 1966, 1986, 1998 and 2002, a rivalry that already included the Hand of God, the Beckham red card and the Sapporo penalty. Argentina go on to face Spain in the final, while England's wait for a second world title continues.
England Record against Argentina 1951-2026
P15 W6-D6-L3 F22-A17 Record: 60.00%
*One drawn match lost on penalty kicks
England Record 1872-2026 – My Football Facts
England National Football Team
| Played | England Wins | Draws | Argentina Wins | England Goals | Argentina Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 6 | 6* | 3 | 22 | 17 |
| *Includes the 1998 World Cup second-round tie in Saint-Etienne, drawn 2-2 with Argentina winning 4-3 on penalty kicks. The most recent meeting was the 2026 World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, won 2-1 by Argentina. England's win percentage stands at 60.00%. | |||||
England v Argentina: Famous Matches
Few international fixtures carry the weight of England v Argentina. Their six World Cup meetings have produced some of the most infamous and celebrated moments in the tournament's history.
1966 World Cup quarter-final, Wembley. Geoff Hurst's header settled a bad-tempered tie best remembered for Argentina captain Antonio Rattin's dismissal and his long refusal to leave the pitch. England went on to lift the trophy on the same ground.
1986 World Cup quarter-final, Mexico City. Diego Maradona scored twice in four minutes at the Azteca: first with the Hand of God, then with the Goal of the Century, a slaloming run past half the England team. Gary Lineker's late header was not enough in a 2-1 defeat.
1998 World Cup second round, Saint-Etienne. An 18-year-old Michael Owen scored one of England's greatest World Cup goals, David Beckham was sent off for a flick at Diego Simeone, and Sol Campbell had a late winner disallowed before Argentina won the shootout 4-3 after a 2-2 draw.
"Alan Shearer reflects on the lasting pain of England's dramatic 1998 World Cup exit to Argentina, describing it as a defeat that still resonates decades later. He believes the current England side now has the chance to rewrite history by overcoming Argentina on the biggest stage and taking a significant step towards World Cup glory."
— Summary of Alan Shearer's BBC Sport column
2002 World Cup group stage, Sapporo. Beckham's redemption. His first-half penalty gave Sven-Goran Eriksson's side a 1-0 win over an Argentina team that failed to escape the group.
2005 friendly, Geneva. The most recent meeting before the 2026 semi-final. Two Michael Owen headers in the final four minutes turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 England win.
2026 World Cup Semi-Final: Argentina's Late Escape
2026 World Cup semi-final, Atlanta. The sixth World Cup meeting between the nations, and their first competitive encounter since 1998, added another agonising chapter to the rivalry. Anthony Gordon turned home Morgan Rogers' cross in the 55th minute to put England in front, and Thomas Tuchel's side were 30 minutes from a first World Cup final in 60 years.
Argentina, the reigning world champions, produced yet another late escape. Enzo Fernández drove in an equaliser from the edge of the box in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martínez headed a stoppage-time winner, both goals created by Lionel Messi in a match he began having never previously faced England. The 2-1 defeat sent the holders through to face Spain in the final and left England to reflect on a semi-final that slipped away in the closing minutes.
Watch the highlights of Argentina's late 2-1 win over England below.
England's route to this semi-final ran through Scandinavia: see the full England v Norway head-to-head record for the story of the quarter-final. For England's complete all-time results, visit the England Record 1872-2025 and the England National Team hub, and find every 2026 squad on our World Cup 2026 squads page.
England v Argentina FAQs
Here are the answers to the most common questions about the England v Argentina rivalry and the 2026 World Cup semi-final.
What was the score in England v Argentina at the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina beat England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday 15 July 2026 at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium). Anthony Gordon gave England a second-half lead in the 55th minute before Enzo Fernández equalised on 85 minutes and Lautaro Martínez headed a stoppage-time winner, both goals assisted by Lionel Messi.
What is England's head-to-head record against Argentina?
England have played Argentina 15 times since 1951, winning six, drawing six and losing three. England have scored 22 goals and conceded 17. One of the draws, the 1998 World Cup tie, was lost 4-3 on penalty kicks.
When did England last play Argentina?
The most recent meeting was the 2026 World Cup semi-final on 15 July 2026 in Atlanta, which Argentina won 2-1. Before that, the sides had not met since a friendly in Geneva on 12 November 2005, a 3-2 England win featuring two late Michael Owen headers.
Has Lionel Messi ever played against England?
Before the 2026 World Cup, Messi had never faced England despite his two-decade international career. That changed in the semi-final in Atlanta on 15 July 2026, his first appearance against the Three Lions, and he marked it by assisting both Argentina goals in a 2-1 win.
Have England and Argentina met at a World Cup before?
Yes, six times: the 1962 group stage (England won 3-1), the 1966 quarter-final (1-0 England), the 1986 quarter-final (2-1 Argentina, the Hand of God game), the 1998 second round (2-2, Argentina won on penalties), the 2002 group stage (1-0 England, Beckham's penalty) and the 2026 semi-final (2-1 Argentina, in Atlanta).
Have Argentina ever lost a World Cup semi-final?
No. Argentina have now won all seven of their World Cup semi-finals, in 1930, 1978, 1986, 1990, 2014, 2022 and 2026. They beat England 2-1 in Atlanta to reach the 2026 final as reigning world champions.
Who do Argentina play in the 2026 World Cup final?
Argentina face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday 19 July, after Spain beat France 2-0 in the other semi-final. Argentina are the reigning champions and are chasing back-to-back World Cup titles.
