England and defending champion Argentina will meet Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
The semifinal is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. CDT at Atlanta Stadium. The winner will advance to face Spain in the championship match Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Argentina reached the semifinal after defeating Switzerland in the quarterfinals. England advanced by overcoming Norway. FIFA says Wednesday’s match will be the sixth World Cup meeting between the two countries, whose tournament history includes some of soccer’s most memorable and controversial games.
The match also gives Lionel Messi his first World Cup appearance against England. Argentina is attempting to defend the championship it won in 2022, while England is seeking its first World Cup final appearance since winning the tournament in 1966.
England manager Thomas Tuchel urged his team to embrace the occasion after a demanding path through the knockout rounds. Argentina enters with the experience of a defending champion and a large following expected in Atlanta.
The matchup is likely to draw strong interest across the Rio Grande Valley, where both national teams have deep and enthusiastic fan bases. Supporters should verify local broadcast listings and match updates as kickoff approaches.
Sources: FIFA match preview, FIFA tournament analysis and Radio France Internationale.
