In the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final 2, Argentina is set to lock horns with England. The match is scheduled to be played on July 16 at the Atlanta Stadium in Georgia.
This will be the first time Argentina’s superstar Lionel Messi will face England in his successful international career. Having represented Argentina for over two decades and facing every other FIFA World Cup-winning team, the 39-year-old footballer has never clashed against the Englishmen.
The team emerging victorious will face Spain in the title clash. Earlier, Spain defeated France by 2-0 to seal a spot in the final.
Ahead of the clash, Messi also labelled the English side as the “powerhouse” of the sport and said that the clash is special for him.
“The truth is, it’s special. It’s a special match because it’s my first time. I’ve played against everyone except England. And it’s special, as I said before, because they’re a big team, a powerhouse. It’s always nice to play against teams like that, in matches like this, and especially in the semi-finals of a World Cup,” he said.
Earlier, he has featured in the matches against Brazil, Uruguay, Germany, Italy, Spain and France in his international career.
More than two decades later, Messi now has the opportunity to script his own chapter in the storied rivalry as Argentina chase a place in the final and bid to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup title.
Additionally, Messi is sharing the top spot with France’s skipper Kylian Mbappe on the list of the players with the most goals. Currently, both players have eight goals to their names.
On the other hand, England booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway, coming from behind thanks to a brace from Jude Bellingham.
His decisive winner in the third minute of extra time sealed England’s progression to just the fourth World Cup semi-final in the nation’s history.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Final match’s date and venue
The final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be played on July 20 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford.
(With ANI Inputs)
