​England have progressed to the World Cup semi-finals after a hard-fought victory over Norway in sweltering Miami heat. The Three Lions trailed at halftime, but Jude Bellingham equalized on the stroke of the break and then netted the decisive goal in the early minutes of extra time, sealing a 2-1 win and sending them into the last four. This victory leaves England just one win away from reaching a third major tournament final in the past decade.
Wednesday, 15 July – 20:00 BST. Having overcome Norway, England now potentially face the defending champions. Argentina topped their group with three wins, and Lionel Messi has continued to shine on football’s biggest stage, scoring eight goals in the tournament as he marked his 39th birthday. Argentina endured a scare when Cape Verde pushed them to extra time in the round of 16 but rallied to defeat Egypt and reach the quarter-finals.
In the last 16, Argentina were drawn against Switzerland, who reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954 by beating Colombia on penalties. Reaching the semi-finals means England would return to Atlanta, where they previously defeated DR Congo in the last-32. Follow live updates from Argentina v Switzerland.
Sunday, 19 July – 20:00 BST. Should England advance to the final, they would face the winner of the other side of the bracket: 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up France, or 2010 victors Spain. France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals, while Spain knocked out Belgium 2-1. The final is set to be staged in New Jersey, with capacity crowds of around 82,500 expected.
Lionel Messi has become the all-time leading World Cup scorer, surpassing Miroslav Klose’s record after Argentina’s victory over Austria. The tension continues as England’s potential path to glory remains firmly on the horizon, with the team’s biggest threats and the tournament’s drama unfolding in the remaining rounds. The memory of Messi’s record and Haaland’s formidable form for Norway looms large as England press on, aiming to add another chapter to their recent run of strong performances in major tournaments.