After Spain booked its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals last night with a 2-0 victory over France that took many by surprise, all eyes are now on the Argentina-England semifinal, a meet-up known as one of football’s most storied rivalries.
The reigning world champions will meet an England side that is eager to finally stop its frustratingly long wait for some more World Cup glory.
With Lionel Messi potentially making his final World Cup appearance and England chasing its first final since 1966, all eyes will be on Atlanta tonight.
Argentina vs England Odds
| Moneyline | Odds |
|---|---|
| Argentina | +111 |
| England | -128 |
128 players claimed the offer this month
Argentina vs England Time, Date, Where to Watch
- Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2026
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT
- Place: Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) in Atlanta, Georgia
- Where to Watch: FOX, FOX One, FOX Sports
Argentina: Three World Cups After Six Appearances
Throughout the 2026 knockout stages, Argentina has once again proven exactly why it is one of the undisputable elite nations in world football, scoring three goals in each of their last three matches.
The reigning champions, who have played in six World Cup finals throughout the team’s history and have won three of those matches, were seen mixing their trademark grit with attacking quality at this edition.
Set pieces may also play a major role, as Argentina has repeatedly shown an ability to produce in the biggest moments. Plus, Messi’s ability to decide tight matches could give them a slight edge.
The 39-year-old continues to defy expectations, arriving at the semifinal as Argentina’s leader and emotional heartbeat. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has once again delivered on the biggest stage, combining his trademark vision, passing, and finishing to guide Argentina through the knockout rounds.
While he may no longer have the same pace as his younger self, he still has what it takes to change a match with a single moment of brilliance, whether through a free kick, a defense-splitting pass, or a clinical finish.
England, Good Under Pressure
England has one of the deepest squads in the tournament. Led by the team’s standout performer, Jude Bellingham, alongside Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka, the Three Lions possess the creativity and pace to trouble any defense, having found the right balance between experience and youth under Thomas Tuchel.
Declan Rice offers stability in front of the defense, while Saka, Foden, and Cole Palmer set the pace and bring flair in attack, which makes them less dependent on Kane compared to past appearances.
England arrive against Argentina believing they have their best opportunity in decades to reach another World Cup final. They only managed the feat once, in 1996, when they used their home advantage to take home the title.
Now, with coach Tuchel saying he is considering man-marking Lionel Messi in the semifinal, it is safe to say we can expect a tense, physical encounter that could remain level after 90 minutes.
Argentina vs England Prediction
Without a doubt, the clash of the old foes will be interesting to watch. In the past, England won their first two World Cup meetings against Argentina in 1962 and 1966, before Argentina’s iconic 1986 quarter-final victory featuring Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” and brilliant solo goal.
Argentina also prevailed on penalties in a dramatic Round of 16 clash in 1998, while England gained revenge four years later when David Beckham’s penalty secured a 1-0 win in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup.
Tonight, Lionel Messi’s movement between the lines and Julián Álvarez’s work rate could prove decisive against an England defense that has not kept a clean sheet in the knockout stage.
Pick: Argentina to Win (+111)