England and Argentina will reignite one of football’s fiercest rivalries when they meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Both teams advanced through challenging quarter-final ties, with England overcoming Norway thanks to a Jude Bellingham brace and Argentina edging past a resilient Switzerland, inspired by Julian Alvarez’s sensational strike.

The winner will book a place in Sunday’s final.

The two nations have faced each other 14 times historically, with England securing six victories compared to Argentina’s three, and five matches ending in draws.

England have scored 24 goals to Argentina’s 19 across these encounters. Five of the meetings have come in the World Cup, producing unforgettable moments.

These include Diego Maradona’s iconic double in Argentina’s 2-1 quarter-final win in 1986 and the 1998 Round of 16 clash, where David Beckham was sent off before Argentina progressed on penalties.

The most recent encounter was a 2005 friendly in Geneva, which England won 3-2.

Jude Bellingham stands out as England’s talisman.

The midfielder has been outstanding at the tournament, making six appearances with six goals and one assist. His brace against Norway highlighted his goal-scoring threat, but his composure, leadership, and ability to elevate those around him make him indispensable to the Three Lions’ campaign.

For Argentina, all eyes remain on Lionel Messi.

The veteran has dazzled with eight goals and two assists in six games, totalling 10 goal involvements. Though he was relatively quiet against Switzerland, his hunger and experience against England’s defence could prove decisive once more.

Both Harry Kane and Bellingham have netted six goals each for England.

This marks just the third time England have reached a World Cup semi-final.

Argentina, meanwhile, remain unbeaten in four previous semi-final appearances (1986, 1990, 2014, and 2022).

Messi currently sits among the tournament’s top scorers with eight goals.

Tactically, the sides bring contrasting strengths. England, under Thomas Tuchel, emphasise structure and adaptability, blending controlled possession with intelligent pressing and quick transitions, often channelled through Bellingham and Kane.

Argentina favour a more fluid, unpredictable style, relying on technical midfield dominance and Messi’s roaming influence between the lines.

The central battle will be pivotal.

If England’s midfield pivot can disrupt Argentina’s rhythm, they can launch rapid counters.

Conversely, if Argentina control the tempo and isolate England’s backline, their creative talents are poised to exploit spaces effectively.

Fans across Africa can catch every moment live on SuperSport on DStv, which continues its comprehensive broadcast of all 104 World Cup matches.

With expert commentary, pre- and post-match analysis from leading pundits, and dedicated channels, SuperSport ensures no action is missed.

Affordable options like DStv Access (UGX 15,000 weekly or UGX 49,000 monthly) and flexible GOtv packages make it accessible for everyone.

Everything else can wait — tune in at 22:00 EAT on SuperSport World Cup Central for what promises to be a thrilling semi-final showdown.