England and Argentina shared a combative start to their World Cup semi-final on Wednesday as the holders averaged a foul every two-and-a-half minutes to match a record for poor challenges at the 2026 edition.
Lionel Messi’s team were punished by referee Ismail Elfath four times during the first 10 minutes in Atlanta – a record only equalled by Sweden during the same period of their 3-0 defeat to France in the last 32.
“It’s been too stop-start,” former England striker Alan Shearer told BBC Sport. “There have been too many fouls.
“I would like to see England add a little bit more tempo to the game. If they do not, that’s how [Argentina will] cause them problems.”
England’s national anthem was drowned out by boos and jeers from the Argentina fans 😮 pic.twitter.com/5hrarWx1Ix
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 15, 2026
World Cup 2026: England vs Argentina tension
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi appeared to question Elfath and England’s Jude Bellingham seemed to tell the official that an elbow had been thrown after one early altercation.
The incident was a painful one for Three Lions midfielder Eliot Anderson, who went down after an apparent shove on the head from Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.
“The slower the pace, the more it will suit Argentina,” warned Shearer. “Like England, they’ve found ways to win games under pressure.”
The victors in the tie will meet Spain in the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday (20:00 BST), with the losers meeting France in the third-placed play-off a day earlier (22:00).
World Cup 2026: England team vs Argentina
England made three changes, bringing in full-backs Reece James and Djed Spence and midfielder Morgan Rogers for Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly and Noni Madueke.
England starting XI: Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Djed Spence, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon
England substitutes: Dean Henderson, James Trafford, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, Trevoh Chalobah, Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke, Ivan Toney
World Cup 2026: Argentina team vs England
Giuliano Simeone supplanted Rodrigo De Paul as Argentina’s one change came in midfield.
De Paul sustained a cut during a challenge against Switzerland during the quarter-finals but did not appear to be injured afterwards.
Argentina starting XI: Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi, Giuliano Simeone
Argentina substitutes: Juan Musso, Geronimo Rulli, Marcos Senesi, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Rodrigo De Paul, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Nico Gonzalez, Thiago Almada, Nico Paz, Jose Manuel Lopez, Lautaro Martinez
Where to watch England vs Argentina: TV channel, online live stream
Kick-off on Wednesday was at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT). In the UK, live TV coverage is on BBC One.
Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: England vs Argentina stats
- England have lost two of their 14 internationals against Argentina, winning six and drawing the other six
- One of those draws was their penalty shootout defeat in the last 16 at the World Cup 1998 following a 2-2 draw
- Their last loss to La Albiceleste in regular time was a 2-1 quarter-final defeat in Mexico City at the World Cup 1986
- Jude Bellingham has scored twice in each of his last two World Cup appearances, with only Harry Kane (4) and Gary Lineker (3) ever having more matches in which they scored at least two goals for the Three Lions in the competition
- In World Cup history, the only midfielder with to score at least two goals in more games than Bellingham is Peru’s Téofilo Cubillas (3)
- Argentina are in their sixth World Cup semi-final, progressing from each of their preceding five ties at this stage
- This is the sixth time Argentina have played England at the World Cup, only ever facing Germany more times in the competition. They have also played the Netherlands six times
- Their total of six wins at the 2026 edition represents their longest outright winning run in tournament history
- Lionel Scaloni’s side have scored exactly three goals in each of their last four matches, ensuring they are poised to become the second side in World Cup history to net at least three goals in five consecutive matches, after France across the 2022 and 2026 editions
- With 17 goals at this year’s World Cup, Argentina have scored the most of any team and are one shy of equalling their best-ever tally of 18, which they managed at the 1930 finals
