England meet Argentina in the second semi-final with a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final at stake.
Victory would see England progress to only their second World Cup Final after 1966, whilst Argentina are chasing a seventh appearance in the showpiece match.
Team News
Declan Rice is a doubt for England after he was substituted at half time in their eventual 2-1 comeback victory over Norway in extra time.
Jarell Quansah is serving the second of his two-match ban, whilst Jordan Henderson is still sidelined with a tournament-ending wrist injury.
Argentina are set to have midfielder, Leandro Paredes available after he recovered from a knock suffered in their 3-1 extra-time win over Switzerland.
Lionel Messi (face) and Cristian Romero (fatigue) are too expected to be in contention.
When is Kick-Off?
England meet Argentina at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA, on Wednesday 15 July at 3pm EDT (8pm BST), live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK.
Stat Attack
- England have won three of five previous World Cup meetings against Argentina (W3, L2).
- Argentina are yet to beat England at a World Cup when playing as the designated away team.
- England have won one of three previous knockout stage ties against Argentina at the World Cup (W1, L2), although their defeat in 1998 at the Round of 16 stage was on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
- Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have both been involved in seven of England’s 13 goals at this tournament, with the pair having registered six goals and one assist in six appearances.
- 16 of Argentina’s 73 fouls were committed by Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez – who both committed eight fouls.
- England have won just one of their three previous semi-final appearances (W1, L2), with both defeats having come on foreign soil in Italy and Russia in 1990 and 2018 respectively.
- Argentina have never lost a semi-final appearance at the FIFA World Cup (W6), having previously reached this stage in 1930, 1978, 1986, 1990, 2014 and 2022 respectively.
Prediction
Having needed extra time to clinically beat Norway from behind in intensely humid conditions in Miami, England will be pleased to have air conditioning and a closed roof for this semi-final but they have to be far more focused and sharper if they want to reach the final.
Argentina meanwhile have worryingly lost defensive focus in the knockout stages after they needed extra time for the second time in three knockout matches, although they’ve frankly rode their luck to get this far through favourable refereeing decisions and clinical moments.
Both teams though came from behind to beat DR Congo and Egypt in Rounds of 32 and 16 respectively at this stadium so I wouldn’t be surprised if this is initially cagey, but if this goes to extra time then I can see England nicking this on slightly better fitness even if my head says 2-1 to Argentina.
Prediction: England 2-1 (AET) Argentina
Result: England 1-2 Argentina