ATLANTA — England will face defending champion Argentina on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) in a blockbuster World Cup semifinal, with a place in the final and Lionel Messi’s bid for back-to-back titles on the line.
England is seeking its first World Cup final appearance since winning the tournament in 1966, while Argentina aims to reach its third final in the last four editions and become the first nation to successfully defend the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.
The match in Atlanta marks the teams’ first competitive meeting since the 2002 World Cup and renews one of international football’s most storied rivalries.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni downplayed the historical and political backdrop surrounding the fixture.
“The message is this is a football game,” Scaloni said.
Messi said Argentina remains motivated despite already winning the World Cup.
“This squad does not get tired of making history. They keep wanting more,” he said.
Argentina advanced after defeating Switzerland 3-1 in extra time, extending its unbeaten World Cup run to 12 matches since its opening loss to Saudi Arabia in 2022.
England, powered by standout performances from Jude Bellingham, reached the semifinals after victories over DR Congo, Mexico and Norway.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said England must focus on more than just stopping Messi.
“We all know how good Messi is but we also know how good Argentina are. We can’t solely rely on stopping Messi,” Pickford said.
England enters the match with one injury concern as midfielder Declan Rice continues to recover from illness.
The semifinal will also mark Messi’s first career appearance against England. The two nations last met in a 2005 friendly won 3-2 by England, although Messi did not play in that match.
