2026 FIFA World Cup: Live blog - England v Argentina, the World Cup Semi-Final

Lionel Messi has cemented his place as the Greatest Footballer ever to lace up boots in this tournament, 8 goals, several assists and when needed most he has delivered in dramatic fashion. What a final it will be between the European and South American Champions for the World Cup on Sunday. But for England the wait will become 64 years and counting.

UTTER DEVASTATION FOR ENGLAND, JUBILATION FOR MESSI AND ARGENTINA AND THEY WIN AND MAKE IT A SECOND STRAIGHT WORLD CUP FINAL

FULL-TIME ENGLAND 1-2 ARGENTINA

100 mins it is surely over now England 1-2 Argentina

95 mins Toney and Rashford on for England, No Saka, mental decisions from Tuchel England 1-2 Argentina

Absolutely devastating, but from Messi and Argentina it has been utterly brilliant since they went behind, they have dominated the game England 1-2 Argentina

91 Mins LAUTARO MARTINEZ HEADS IN FROM A MESSI CROSS AND ENGLAND ARE BEHIND IN ADDED TIME England 1-2 Argentina

91 mins MacAllister hits the post, but then it is a GOAL!!!

89 mins Surely Tuchel has to bring on Saka now?! England 1-1 Argentina

87 mins can Argentina win it now?! England 1-1 Argentina

ENZO FERNANDEZ EQUALISES FOR ARGENTINA WITH A WORLDIE, HE RECEIVES THE BALL FROM MESSI 25 YARDS OUT AND HE FIRES IT PAST PICKFORD INTO THE NET! England 1-1 Argentina

82 mins Rice and James off, O'Reilly and Burn on for England England 1-0 Argentina

80 mins TEN MINUTES TO GO. England are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. Lautaro Martinez comes on for Argentina. England 1-0 Argentina

75 mins Incredible let off for England, Alexis MacAllister's header cannons back off the post from point blank range, a sitter and it is all Argentina now England 1-0 Argentina

71 mins Konza on for Gordon, a defensive move by Tuchel England 1-0 Argentina

Hydration break, and England are 20 minutes from the World Cup Final England 1-0 Argentina

68 mins OUTSTANDING SAVE FROM JORDAN PICKFORD, DOWN LOW AND SAVES ENGLAND ONCE MORE. Nico Gonzalez's header was set to smash the net but the Everton man is heroic! England 1-0 Argentina

66 mins Messi with a winding run, but Gonzalez's cut back is intercepted by Declan Rice, who has been immense for England England 1-0 Argentina

63 mins Argentina have been camped in England's half for the last 5 minutes, but as yet no way through for the World Champions England 1-0 Argentina

59 mins Argentina on the front foot, and England only just keeping them out England 1-0 Argentina

57 mins Djed Spence saves a certain goal! An astounding tackle on Simeone to save England straight away England 1-0 Argentina

55 mins ONE NIL TO ENGLAND!!!!!!! Morgan Rogers with the cross and Anthony Gordon steals in to tap in and ENGLAND LEAD ARGENTINA WITH 35 MINUTES TO GO! England 1-0 Argentina

50 mins Cristian Romero booked for holding Bellingham, free kick for England on half way England 0-0 Argentina

46 mins Jordan Pickford makes an excellent save from Julian Alvarez down to his left and Argentina have a corner England 0-0 Argentina

Declan Rice gets the second half underway, England could be 45 minutes away from the World Cup Final for the first time in 60 years England 0-0 Argentina

HALF-TIME ENGLAND 0-0 ARGENTINA

A furiously contested half of football, no shots on target for either team and this game could be decided by one moment of magic, who will step up for England?

41 mins the referee has had an outstanding game so far, books Lisandro Martinez for a pull on Rogers England 0-0 Argentina

40 mins Messi is starting to boss this game England 0-0 Argentina

38 mins Enzo Fernandez hits a rocket of a shot just over the bar, a compelling 0-0 at the moment England 0-0 Argentina

36 mins Lionel Messi with his first moment of the game, dribbles past three players before he is chopped down by Anderson England 0-0 Argentina

35 mins another foul on Bellingham, brilliant play from Spence in the build-up, another chance to deliver, James with the kick this time....England 0-0 Argentina

33 mins Rice delivers and Stones can't quite get his attempt on target England 0-0 Argentina

32 mins Jude Bellingham steals the ball on the left, and runs at the Argentine defence and wins a foul 26 yards out on the left side of the box, Rice and James over the ball England 0-0 Argentina

27 mins a Goal from England in the next 18 minutes would be huge England 0-0 Argentina

Hydration Break follows the corner and a satisfactory start for England in my opinion

23 mins Corner to Argentina, the hydration break is up next....England 0-0 Argentina

20 mins Neither goalkeeper has had anything to do yet, but this has been such a compelling beginning to this game, a goal will elevate the game though of course England 0-0 Argentina

14 mins Anthony Gordon breaks away but takes far too long to shoot or cross and is crowded out on the edge of the box, Argentina break away in fine fashion, we have got a great game on our hands in Atlanta England 0-0 Argentina

11 mins Elliott Anderson is the key figure for England, and he is having a running battle with Enzo Fernandez, someone is getting a booking soon England 0-0 Argentina

7 mins Corner to England, here comes Declan Rice, but the ball in is cleared after some rough and tumble England 0-0 Argentina

3 mins England are pressing high and stopping Argentina from building up, and the first flashpoint with a late challenge on Elliott Anderson, it is a poor challenge from Enzo Fernandez England 0-0 Argentina

2000 BST Kick-off, Argentina and Messi gets the game underway in Atlanta

1957 BST I just have a feeling that Bukayo Saka is going to come off the bench and win this for England, I could be wrong, I usually am, but he has shone in his cameos at this World Cup and the bench has been utilised massively at this tournament.

1955 BST Both National Anthems drowned out by this incredible crowd in this remarkable stadium in Atlanta, but the emotion on the faces of the Argentine players is something to behold. They are up for this more than most can imagine.

1949 BST BBC's coverage has kicked ITV's ass tonight already. No debate. Here we go.

THE WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL, ENGLAND V ARGENTINA, FOR A PLACE IN THE FINAL AGAINST SPAIN ON SUNDAY. HISTORY BECKONS. COME ON ENGLAND!

1946 BST The atmosphere in Atlanta is phenomenal and we are getting closer to kick-off, what a night this could be.

1936 BST 10 years ago England were at a real low point, being knocked out of the Euros by Iceland in the round of 16, following by disappointing performances at the 2014 and 2010 World Cups, a disappointing exit from Euro 2012, and failing to qualify for Euro 2008. Tonight would usurp getting to two European Championship Finals, our first World Cup Final for 60 years.

1933 BST Sweet Caroline belts out around the stadium

1924 BST If England win the game then it guarantees that at least THREE Arsenal players will win the World Cup and Premier League titles in the same year, something which has not happened since 1998 when Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petite followed up their double of Premier League and FA Cup with victory in the Stade de France against Brazil.

1917 BST The irony of the fact that a German could be the man to lead England to glory for the first time in 60 years cannot be lost on anyone. Germany have been the team to end our journey three times in major tournaments since we won the World Cup in 1966.

1910 BST If England win tonight then we could be in for the mother of all sporting Sundays with the final round of The Open running into the World Cup Final, with English golfers bidding to end 34 years without a Claret Jug, and England bidding to win a first World Cup in 60 years.

1908 BST BBC have been criticised, but they beat ITV to become the first British Broadcaster to actually cover a game from inside a stadium at this World Cup.

1903 BST Thomas Tuchel has made a surprise call by selecting Morgan Rogers ahead of Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke

1900 BST Good evening everyone, are you ready? This is it, England's fourth FIFA World Cup Semi-Final, they have won one before, and they are potentially just 90 minutes away from their first World Cup Final for 60 years. England v Argentina, one of the greatest rivalries in International Football, and this is the biggest match they have ever played. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta joins Wembley, the Azteca and Stade Geoffroy-Guichard as the stage for the latest chapter in this most compelling of all football stories.