England and Argentina have booked their places in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after overcoming determined quarter-final opponents to set up a highly anticipated clash for a place in the final.
England defeated Norway 2-1 after extra time in Miami, with Jude Bellingham emerging as the match winner by scoring twice.
Norway had taken the lead through Andreas Schjelderup before Bellingham restored parity just before halftime and struck again in extra time to seal victory.
The match was not without controversy, as Norway protested England’s equaliser, claiming the move began after the ball struck an overhead camera cable. FIFA later said there was no evidence to support the claim, allowing the goal to stand.
Despite reaching the last four, England manager Thomas Tuchel criticised his team’s display, admitting they were fortunate to progress and insisting significant improvement would be needed against Argentina.
Argentina also had to dig deep before defeating Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in Kansas City.
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring early, but Dan Ndoye equalised to force extra time after a spirited Swiss comeback.
Switzerland’s hopes suffered a major setback when Breel Embolo was sent off after receiving a second yellow card following a VAR review.
The numerical advantage eventually paid off for Argentina, with Julián Álvarez firing home a superb long-range effort before Lautaro Martínez sealed the victory on a late counterattack.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted his side struggled throughout the contest but praised his players for showing resilience under pressure.
The semi-final between England and Argentina will revive one of football’s greatest rivalries, with the winner advancing to the World Cup final against either France or Spain.
