World Cup 2026: Argentina stages a remarkable turnaround against England to secure a place in the final against Spain.

Argentina has clinched their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after mounting an exhilarating comeback to conquer England 2-1 in a captivating semi-final match. The defending champions demonstrated their tenacity after going behind, netting two goals in the final moments to overturn England's lead and set the stage for an exciting final showdown against Spain. The semi-final remained scoreless for a significant portion of the first half, with both teams generating chances but failing to capitalize. Argentina nearly found the net in the 39th minute when Enzo Fernandez unleashed a fierce long-range shot, but his attempt just skimmed over the crossbar. Upon resuming play, Julian Alvarez put pressure on England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 47th minute after reacting swiftly to a loose ball in the penalty area. However, Pickford maintained his composure and made a straightforward save. England ultimately broke the stalemate in the 55th minute. Morgan Rogers executed a precise lofted cross into the box, allowing Anthony Gordon to fire a quick shot into the bottom-left corner, granting England a 1-0 advantage. Argentina kept pushing for an equalizer and came close in the 69th minute, but Pickford showcased his skills with a remarkable save to thwart Nicolas Gonzalez's low header following a threatening cross. Their determination bore fruit in the 85th minute when Enzo Fernandez leveled the score. The midfielder received a pass from Lionel Messi on the edge of the box and calmly slotted the ball into the left side of the net to make it 1-1. As extra time loomed, Argentina completed their comeback in stoppage time. In the 90+2nd minute, Messi once again delivered a key assist, providing a brilliant cross for Lautaro Martinez, who headed it into an unguarded net, sealing a memorable 2-1 triumph. This victory propels Argentina into the World Cup final, where they will meet Spain in a highly awaited contest for football's greatest honor. Meanwhile, England will now prepare for a third-place play-off against France, who were eliminated in the other semi-final against Spain on Tuesday night.