England vs Argentina: Lineups, Prediction, Betting Tips & Odds

England vs Argentina Match Summary

Competition	FIFA World Cup 2026
Match Date	Wednesday 15 July 2026
Match Time	20:00 UK time
Venue (City, Stadium)	Atlanta Stadium
Broadcast (TV / Streaming / Radio / Bookmaker Streaming)	BBC 1, BBCi, RTE 2

This is the one everyone wanted. England meet Argentina in the World Cup 2026 semi-final on 15 July, with a place in the showpiece final on the line at Atlanta Stadium.

England arrive on a four-game winning run and chasing a first final appearance since 1966. Thomas Tuchel's side have grafted their way through, though the defence has looked shaky at times.

Argentina come in as reigning champions, still chasing the trophy they lifted in 2022. Lionel Scaloni's side edged past Switzerland in extra time and remain a serious handful going forward.

The two have met six times before, England winning three, two drawn and one to Argentina. This one carries every bit of the old edge, with a final at stake.

England vs Argentina Form

England have won nine of their last ten outings, the only blemish a goalless draw with Ghana. They beat Norway 2-1 last time out and battered Croatia 4-2 earlier in the run. Harry Kane keeps finding the target, while Jude Bellingham has chipped in with goals from midfield. The engine room looks solid, even if the back line stays a worry.

Argentina have won eight of their last ten, with wins over Switzerland, Egypt and Cape Verde all in this tournament. They have scored freely, netting three past Switzerland and three past Algeria. Lionel Messi remains the difference maker, having scored in five of his last six World Cup appearances. This is a stubborn, ruthless side.

England vs Argentina Lineups & Team News

Injuries & Suspensions

England: Jarell Quansah (Suspended)

Argentina: No known absentees

England

England remain short of natural right-back options, with Jarell Quansah suspended and Reece James unlikely to be risked from the start given his fitness record. Djed Spence could return, though Ezri Konsa may continue there, with John Stones expected to partner Marc Guehi. Jordan Henderson misses out after wrist surgery, and Declan Rice, below par against Norway due to illness, is hoped to start alongside Elliot Anderson.

Argentina

Argentina could name an unchanged side after edging past Switzerland in extra time. Lionel Messi is set to start up front, with Lionel Scaloni choosing between Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez as his strike partner. Leandro Paredes may keep his place in midfield for extra defensive balance despite Thiago Almada's positive impact from the bench.

England vs Argentina Predicted Lineup

England

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Starting Lineup: Pickford; Spence, Guéhi, Konsa, O'Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane. To be confirmed on the bench.

Argentina

Formation: 4-4-2

Predicted Starting Lineup: E. Martínez; Molina, Romero, L. Martínez, Tagliafico; A. M. Allister, E. Fernández, Paredes, N. González; Alvarez, Messi. To be confirmed on the bench.

England vs Argentina Key Stats & Match Facts

• England have won nine of their last ten matches against all opponents.

• Argentina have won eight of their last ten matches against all opponents.

• Lionel Messi has scored in five of his last six World Cup appearances.

• Argentina have scored 2+ goals in each of their last six World Cup matches.

• This is the first World Cup meeting between the pair since the 2002 group stage, which England won 1-0.

England vs Argentina Prediction & Best Bets

Our prediction: This has goals written all over it. England carry a threat through Kane and Bellingham, but Argentina's forward line is humming and both defences have looked breakable. We fancy a tight, open affair with both teams finding the net.

Best Bets

Both Teams To Score - Yes at 19/20 with Bet365. Argentina keep scoring for fun and England's defence has been a running concern all tournament, so the goals should flow at both ends.

Over 2.5 Goals at 7/5 with AK Bets. The projected total sits above three, both sides are scoring freely and there is little to suggest a cagey, low-scoring night here.

England vs Argentina Bet Builder

Our four-fold leans on the tournament's big hitters: Lionel Messi to score, Harry Kane over 0.5 shots on target, over 1.5 Argentina goals and Messi over 3.5 shots.

Messi to find the net is the anchor. He has scored in five of his last six World Cup appearances and remains Argentina's talisman, so backing him to score again makes plenty of sense.

Harry Kane over 0.5 shots on target is as reliable as they come. Kane has registered at least one shot on target in each of his last six World Cup outings, and he rarely goes quiet.

Over 1.5 Argentina goals fits the pattern perfectly. Scaloni's side have scored 2+ goals in each of their last six World Cup matches, and their forward line looks in no mood to stop.

Messi over 3.5 shots rounds it off. He has attempted 4+ shots in each of his last three World Cup appearances, forever testing defences and dragging markers out of position.

At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 8/1 and is as short as 5/1 elsewhere. That's a difference in potential winnings of £40 from best to worst price.

Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.

Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.

England vs Argentina Talking Points

This rivalry carries history, with the 1986 World Cup meeting still a central theme whenever these two collide. On the pitch, the battle is simple enough: can England's midfield of Rice and Anderson smother Messi and the excellent Enzo Fernández, or will Argentina's forward line expose a defence that has been the one nagging doubt for Tuchel throughout the tournament? Kane and Bellingham give England the firepower to make it a shootout, but Argentina's know-how and balance could just tilt a fixture with a final riding on it.

England vs Argentina Predictions FAQs

When is the England vs Argentina World Cup 2026 game?

The match is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 15 July 2026 at 20:00 UK time.

Where can I find the best betting odds for England vs Argentina?

You can find the latest odds and betting tips directly in our comprehensive match preview.

What is your England vs Argentina prediction?

Our expert prediction, detailed analysis, and bet builder picks are available in the dedicated sections of this preview.

Where can I find England vs Argentina lineups?

The predicted and confirmed lineups for both teams are updated in our team news section as soon as they are available.

Disclaimer

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