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Messi ties Golden Boot as Argentina, England meet WC Semi

7/13/2026

26 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Argentina Meets England

Argentina and England will meet in the 2026 World Cup semifinal at Atlanta Stadium in the United States.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni called the match “just a soccer match, period,” despite the Falklands rivalry.
Opta gives England a 38.9 % win chance, Argentina 34.1 %, with 27 % of games going to extra time.
Lionel Messi has eight goals, tying the Golden Boot.
England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham each have six goals.

Summary

Argentina Semifinal

Tickets for the Atlanta semifinal start at $3,200 with cheaper seats only in the upper deck while the FIFA Fan Festival opens at noon, runs through the evening and features Ludacris.
The semifinal will air on Fox and Telemundo and stream on Fox One and Peacock.
Argentina’s 86% shootout win rate is the highest among four semifinalists, marking the first tournament where the top-four FIFA-ranked teams all reached the semifinals.

History

Historical Context

In April 1982 Argentina’s junta under Leopoldo Galtieri invaded the Falklands, prompting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to dispatch a naval task force that reclaimed the islands after a 74-day war. The conflict reshaped Argentine politics and bolstered British confidence, and its legacy fuels the 2026 World Cup semifinal where Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina meets Harry Kane’s England.

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Argentina Meets England

Argentina and England will meet in the 2026 World Cup semifinal at Atlanta Stadium in the United States.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni called the match “just a soccer match, period,” despite the Falklands rivalry.
Opta gives England a 38.9 % win chance, Argentina 34.1 %, with 27 % of games going to extra time.
Lionel Messi has eight goals, tying the Golden Boot.
England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham each have six goals.

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