Argentina stun England with late comeback to set up World Cup final against Spain

Argentina produced a dramatic late turnaround to defeat England 2-1 and book their place in the FIFA World Cup final, where the defending champions will face Spain in a blockbuster title clash on Sunday.

After falling behind to Anthony Gordon’s second-half opener, Lionel Scaloni’s side once again showcased their resilience on the biggest stage. Enzo Fernández levelled the contest with a powerful strike from outside the box before Lautaro Martínez broke English hearts in stoppage time with the winning goal.

The victory sends Argentina into a second consecutive World Cup final and keeps alive their bid to become only the third nation in history to successfully defend the men’s World Cup title.

England looked to be in control after Gordon gave them the lead, but their momentum faded as Argentina increased the pressure. Thomas Tuchel’s decision to retreat into a more defensive shape invited sustained attacks from the reigning champions, who eventually made England pay.

Fernández’s equaliser shifted the momentum completely, and with England struggling to regain possession or relieve the pressure, Martínez struck deep into added time to complete another memorable comeback for La Albiceleste.

Argentina’s latest fightback continued a remarkable trend at the 2026 World Cup, which has witnessed a record number of comeback victories. The defending champions have repeatedly shown their ability to recover from difficult situations, underlining the mentality that carried them to the title four years ago.

For England, the defeat marked another painful chapter in their pursuit of major international silverware. Despite boasting one of the world’s most expensive and talented squads, the Three Lions failed to maintain control after taking the lead, with criticism expected to focus on Tuchel’s tactical approach during the closing stages.

Former France striker Thierry Henry praised Argentina’s display while analysing the match for Fox Sports.

“The best team won. Great attitude, mentality. Argentina played very good football and England went into a back five too early for my liking. They thought they had to defend the lead a tiny bit too early.”

Henry also highlighted Scaloni’s tactical use of Lionel Messi, adding:

“Scaloni put the little man (Messi) on the right, not in the middle in traffic, but on the right to give him the ball in one-v-ones. They’re the world champions for a reason.”

Argentina will now meet Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey, with both nations aiming to cap impressive campaigns by lifting football’s biggest prize. Spain reached the final after defeating France 2-0 in the other semifinal, setting up a mouthwatering showdown between the reigning world champions and one of the tournament’s standout teams.