World Cup semi final schedule 2026: Argentina will face England in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This is a historic and special occasion, as Lionel Messi will play against England for the first time in his career. Defending champions Argentina have reached the last four after winning several tough matches.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Why is the semi-final match against England special for Messi?
Argentina captain Lionel Messi is poised to reach another historic milestone in his illustrious international career. Messi is set to face England for the first time in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final in Atlanta. Despite representing Argentina for over two decades and playing against every other World Cup-winning team, Messi has never faced England until now. This highly anticipated clash—with a spot in the World Cup final at stake—will add a new chapter to one of international football's fiercest rivalries.
England is a formidable team—
Messi said, "The truth is, this match is very special. It is special because I am playing against them for the first time. I have played against all the major teams except England. As I have said before, they are a very big and strong team. It is always fantastic to play such matches against teams like that, especially in a World Cup semi-final."
Playing against England for the first time—
Throughout his career, Messi has faced major footballing powers like Brazil, Uruguay, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France, yet England was the one country missing from his international record. He came closest to playing against England in a friendly match in Geneva in November 2005—a game Argentina lost 2–3—but Messi could not participate because he had received a red card during his senior international debut against Hungary earlier that year.
Argentina's arduous journey to the semi-finals—
Defending champions Argentina have displayed tremendous spirit during the knockout stages of this World Cup. After falling two goals behind against Egypt, they staged a magnificent comeback to win 3–2. Subsequently, the match against Switzerland also went into extra time, with Argentina emerging victorious 3–1. In that game, Messi assisted Alexis Mac Allister’s opening goal from a corner; Julián Álvarez then scored with a brilliant strike, and Lautaro Martínez sealed the win with a late goal. This marked the first time since the group-stage match against Poland at Qatar 2022 that Messi failed to score a goal himself in a World Cup match.
Reflecting on the relentless challenges, Messi said, "We will try to get some rest, as we have been under immense pressure, and it takes a toll on the body. There is pressure on the team, but we are in the best possible position to continue doing what we have been doing—putting up a tough fight."
The two teams to face off after 24 years—
There hasn't been a competitive match between England and Argentina since the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where England secured a 1–0 victory. Now, after 24 years, Messi has a golden opportunity to write his own chapter in this historic rivalry. Argentina will take the field not only with the aim of reaching the final but also to advance towards becoming the first country since Brazil in 1962 to win the FIFA World Cup title twice in a row.
