Atlanta to host England and Argentina in World Cup...

By Rohan Gupta — 13 July 2026 — 3 min read

The long-standing football rivalry between England and Argentina is set to reignite on Wednesday in Atlanta, as the two nations face off in a World Cup semi-final. This encounter marks the first time Lionel Messi will play against England in his career, with his Argentina side, the defending world champions, aiming to reach the final. Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel‘s Three Lions are looking to end a significant wait for a major title.

The rivalry, which spans generations, extends beyond the pitch, influenced by historical political tensions, including the Falklands War in the 1980s. This history often resurfaces in football chants from Argentina fans. The upcoming match is the first meeting between the two powerhouses in 21 years, with their last encounter being a friendly in 2005 where England secured a 3-2 victory.

A History of World Cup Encounters

The World Cup rivalry between England and Argentina dates back to 1962 and has been marked by memorable goals, controversies, and red cards. Despite the intense nature of their clashes, England holds a slight edge in their five World Cup meetings, though it has been some time since they secured a victory in a truly decisive match.

Their first World Cup meeting took place in 1962 in Rancagua, Chile, during the group stage. England emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline, thanks to goals from Ron Flowers, Bobby Charlton, and Jimmy Greaves. This win was crucial as it allowed England to advance to the quarter-finals on goal difference, while Argentina was eliminated. England‘s journey in that tournament ended in the quarter-finals against Brazil.

The rivalry intensified significantly in 1966 when the two teams met in the quarter-finals at Wembley, England. This match, which Argentina still claims was marred by an unallowed offside goal by Geoff Hurst, saw Argentina captain Antonio Rattin sent off after just 33 minutes. His refusal to leave the pitch led to an eight-minute delay. England won 1-0 in an ill-tempered affair, with manager Alf Ramsey famously describing the Argentine side as ‘animals’. This game is also credited with influencing the introduction of red and yellow cards in football, first used in the 1970 World Cup.

The 1986 quarter-final in Mexico City, Mexico, is perhaps the most iconic and controversial encounter. Played just four years after the Falklands War, the match was charged with political tension. Diego Maradona scored two goals for Argentina, one famously dubbed the ‘Hand of God’ due to his use of his hand to score past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. His second goal, however, was a spectacular solo effort, often referred to as the ‘Goal of the Century’, where he dribbled past multiple England players. Despite a late goal from Gary Lineker, England lost 2-1, and Argentina went on to win the World Cup.

Dramatic Moments and Redemption

The 1998 World Cup last-16 match in St Etienne, France, was another dramatic chapter. The game is largely remembered for David Beckham‘s red card after he retaliated against Diego Simeone. Before this, Gabriel Batistuta and Alan Shearer exchanged penalties, and Michael Owen scored a memorable solo goal to give England a 2-1 lead. Javier Zanetti equalised for Argentina before half-time. Despite playing with 10 men, England battled on, and a late header from Sol Campbell was disallowed. The match ultimately went to penalties, with Argentina winning 4-3 after misses from David Batty and Paul Ince.

Redemption for Beckham came in the 2002 World Cup group stage match in Sapporo, Japan. The then-England captain scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot after Owen was fouled by Mauricio Pochettino. This crucial 1-0 victory helped England progress from their group, while Argentina was eliminated before the knockout stages for the first time since 1962. England then advanced to the quarter-finals before being knocked out by Brazil.

The upcoming semi-final in Atlanta will add another chapter to this storied rivalry, with Messi leading Argentina against England.