Top News

England are set to renew their long-standing rivalry with Argentina as they compete in just their fourth-ever World Cup semi-final.

This marks only the fourth time England have reached this stage in the tournament’s history. After the heartbreaks of 1990 and 2018, the Three Lions will be hoping to replicate the triumph of 1966, six decades later, when they face reigning world champions Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Under the leadership of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, England are among the final four teams remaining as the 2026 World Cup enters its decisive week.

The highly anticipated semi-final will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which has been temporarily renamed Atlanta Stadium in accordance with FIFA’s advertising guidelines for the World Cup.

England are already familiar with the venue, having played there earlier in the tournament. They beat DR Congo in dramatic fashion during the round of 32, with Harry Kane netting two late goals to seal the victory.

That match kicked off at 5pm UK time, causing a bit of a rush for fans leaving work to catch the action. This time, however, supporters will enjoy a more convenient midweek kick-off at 8pm.

With Atlanta five hours behind the UK, the fixture will begin at 3pm local time. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium, one of the most technologically advanced venues at the World Cup, features a retractable roof and a climate-control system to help players cope with the heat. This should prevent the kind of temperature challenges England experienced during their game in Miami on Saturday evening.

The stadium’s design also reduces the likelihood of weather-related delays, such as those caused by electrical storms, ensuring that the match proceeds as scheduled.

England will face their toughest challenge yet against an Argentina side that has once again battled its way to the semi-finals. The defending champions secured two extra-time victories over Cape Verde and Switzerland and pulled off a dramatic comeback against Egypt in the round of 16.

All eyes will be on Lionel Messi, who continues to produce moments of brilliance even at 39 years of age and may be playing in his final World Cup. His eight goals in this tournament have taken his overall World Cup tally to 21, surpassing Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16 to become the competition’s all-time leading scorer.

This encounter marks the first competitive meeting between England and Argentina since the 2002 World Cup, when England avenged their 1998 defeat with a 1-0 win in the group stage.