​Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 on Saturday, sealing a blockbuster World Cup semifinal showdown with England in Atlanta. The midweek clash at Atlanta Stadium will pit Lionel Messi’s bid to defend his title against a youthful England side led by Jude Bellingham, with a place in the final on the line. The winner will advance to face either France or Spain in the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Argentina’s quarterfinal against Switzerland took place at 9 p.m. ET in Kansas City, with the reigning champions entering as one of the tournament’s most potent attacking teams behind Messi’s ongoing Golden Boot chase. Switzerland had arrived boasting a stingy defense, having conceded just three goals in the tournament and relying on a disciplined system that had stymied several bigger names throughout the summer.
The Argentina-England semifinal is slated for 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 15, according to Fox Sports. The winner will face either France or Spain in the final. Spain clinched its spot with a 2-1 victory over Belgium, a late goal from Mikel Merino sealing the win, and will meet France on Tuesday, July 14, in Dallas.
England reached the semifinals earlier on Saturday by edging Norway 2-1 after extra time at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Bellingham scored both goals, including the decisive strike three minutes into extra time from a rebound, after Norway had taken the lead through Andreas Schjelderup before halftime. England’s coach Tuchel lauded the achievement as “fantastic,” though he noted that his team had made things harder on themselves than necessary.
The England-Argentina matchup carries heavyweight history beyond this tournament, rooted in a rivalry dating back to Diego Maradona’s exploits in the 1986 quarterfinal and David Beckham’s controversial red card in 1998. Neither of those meetings decided a World Cup final, which raises the stakes for a clash already featuring two of the sport’s most closely watched stars today.
Messi entered the knockout phase atop the tournament scoring chart, part of an Argentina attack that has frequently needed late-rescue efforts to survive, including a 3-2 comeback win over Egypt in the Round of 16. At 39, Messi remains the team’s central creative force, often dropping deep to link play rather than simply seeking goals.
Switzerland posed a different challenge than Argentina’s earlier opponents, emphasizing defense and discipline. They had advanced past Colombia on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes, making Saturday’s quarterfinal a departure from the open, attacking matches Argentina had become known for winning.
A triumph for England would mark their first World Cup final appearance since the trophy they won 60 years ago. The semifinal matchup promises a clash of styles and temperament, with Argentina’s star power and creative midfield against England’s organized structure and the rising next generation, led by Bellingham.