Frank Rondel
Argentina advances to the World Cup final after completing a late 2-1 comeback against England in Atlanta. Enzo Fernández equalized before Lautaro Martínez scored during stoppage time, as reported by the customreceipt.com editorial team.
England controlled the opening stages and broke the deadlock after halftime. Anthony Gordon beat Emiliano Martínez in the 55th minute, putting Thomas Tuchel’s team within reach of the final.
Argentina refused to lose control of the contest. Lionel Messi remained decisive despite England’s increasingly defensive approach.
Argentina overturns England’s lead in five dramatic minutes
Enzo Fernández made it 1-1 in the 85th minute. Messi created the opening, allowing Argentina to punish England’s retreat.
Lautaro Martínez then scored the winning goal during stoppage time. The striker beat Jordan Pickford and completed a remarkable turnaround. Messi provided another assist for the decisive strike.
The key moments shaped a semifinal defined by patience and late pressure:
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 55 | Anthony Gordon scores for England |
| 85 | Enzo Fernández equalizes for Argentina |
| Stoppage time | Lautaro Martínez scores the winner |
England became more passive after taking the lead. Argentina exploited the reduced pressure and increased its presence around England’s penalty area.
Spain awaits Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final
The victory sends defending champion Argentina into Sunday’s final against Spain. The match begins at 3 p.m. ET at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Spain reached the final by defeating France 2-0. Argentina now seeks its fourth World Cup title and a second consecutive championship. No country has retained the trophy since Brazil in 1962.
The final will feature several major storylines:
- Lionel Messi could play his final World Cup match.
- Argentina has won every match during the tournament.
- Spain enters with the competition’s strongest defensive record.
- Messi will face Spanish star Lamine Yamal.
Argentina’s late recovery preserved its title defense and ended England’s hopes of a first final since 1966.
England will face France in the third-place match on Saturday, July 18, in Miami.
Earlier we wrote about Why Do Fans Want Argentina Out of the World Cup? VAR Scandal and AFA Investigation Explained