England will face reigning champions Argentina in the World Cup 2026 semi-finals on Wednesday in Atlanta, with a place in the final at stake. The Three Lions reached the last four by defeating Norway 2-1 after extra time, while Argentina needed an additional 30 minutes to overcome 10-man Switzerland 3-1, continuing their pursuit of a second successive world title.
England and Argentina have met five times previously at the World Cup, with England holding a superior head-to-head record after victories in 1962, 1966, and 2002. Argentina won controversially at the Estadio Azteca in 1986 en route to lifting the trophy, and knocked England out in the 1998 last-16 stage on penalties.
Hand of God: Maradona's Infamous Goal (1986)
The most talked-about moment in World Cup history occurred during the 1986 quarter-final in Mexico City. With the score 0-0 early in the second half, Diego Maradona jumped for a loose ball and raised his left arm to punch it past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton into an empty net. The referee did not spot the illegal act and awarded the goal. Argentina went on to win 2-1 and eventually beat West Germany in the final to claim the World Cup.
Goal of the Century: Maradona's Solo Run (1986)
Just four minutes after the Hand of God, Maradona produced one of the finest individual efforts in football history. Picking up the ball inside his own half, he dribbled past five England players, taking 11 touches in 11 seconds, before slotting the ball into the net. FIFA later dubbed it the 'Goal of the Century'. The two goals in the same match encapsulated Maradona's genius and controversy.
Beckham's Red Card and Penalty Exit (1998)
In the 1998 last-16 clash, England's poster boy David Beckham was sent off for petulantly kicking out at Argentina midfielder Diego Simeone while on the ground. Despite being reduced to 10 men, England rallied to take the game to penalties, but were eliminated as Argentina triumphed in the shootout. The defeat was heartbreaking for England, and Beckham faced a torrent of abuse on his return home.
Owen's Breakout Performance (1998)
Before Beckham's red card, the match was level at 2-2 at halftime. Teenager Michael Owen announced himself to the world with a stunning solo goal. After winning the penalty from which Alan Shearer equalised, Owen raced through the Argentina defence to score a sublime individual effort, giving England a 2-1 lead. Argentina's Javier Zanetti equalised just before the break. Owen's performance earned him the Ballon d'Or three years later.
Beckham's Redemption from the Penalty Spot (2002)
After the fallout from his 1998 red card, Beckham endured harsh criticism from fans and media. However, by the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, he was England captain and the team's most influential player. In the group stage, Beckham scored the only goal from the penalty spot to secure a 1-0 victory over Argentina, avenging the 1998 defeat and earning personal redemption. It was England's first win over Argentina since 1966.
