Spain Faces Argentina In Final

Spain will meet Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final after both teams advanced.

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Messi and his devoted flock pull off another miracle in Atlanta. The perfect ending to their story is just one match away | CNN

‘Epic squared’: Scaloni lauds Argentina’s back-to-back World Cup comebacks

Tens of thousands of Argentine soccer fans celebrate their team's World Cup semifinal victory

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A neutral summary of the key facts most outlets agree on, drawn from reporting across the political spectrum.

Defending champion Argentina reached a second straight World Cup final by rallying from 1-0 down to beat England 2-1 in Atlanta. Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 55th minute before Lionel Messi set up Enzo Fernández’s 85th-minute equalizer and Lautaro Martínez scored in the 92nd minute. Argentina will face Spain, which beat France 2-0, in the final on July 19 at 3 p.m. ET at New York-New Jersey Stadium. Argentina could face FIFA discipline after players displayed a “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” banner following the match.

Day 2

Latest update · Jul 16

Argentina advanced to the 2026 World Cup final by rallying past England 2-1 in Atlanta, setting a title match against Spain at New York-New Jersey Stadium on July 19 at 3 p.m. ET. England led 1-0 late after Anthony Gordon’s opener, but Argentina equalized in the 85th minute through Enzo Fernandez and won in stoppage time through Lautaro Martinez, with Lionel Messi involved in the comeback. Spain reached the final by beating France 2-0 in Arlington, Texas, on goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro.

Analysis & opinion

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Messi's Late BrillianceLeans Left

Messi and Argentina have repeatedly found their best moments late in matches. His decisive brilliance has kept Argentina’s title defense alive and made their World Cup run feel powered by late-game heroics.