England vs Argentina: battle for a place in the 2026 World Cup final. Prediction – July 15, 2026
On Wednesday, July 15, England and Argentina will face off in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 CET, and here is my betting pick for the match.
England vs Argentina: Match preview
England enjoyed a flawless World Cup qualifying campaign. The Three Lions collected the maximum 24 points from eight matches, scored 22 goals and did not concede a single one. At the tournament itself, they opened with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, earned seven points in the group stage and finished top of their group. The knockout stage has been far from straightforward, with every match proving to be a tough challenge.
England came from 1-0 down to defeat DR Congo 2-1, then beat Mexico 3-2 despite playing with ten men, before edging past Norway 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-finals. England have reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2022 and will be aiming to reach the final for the first time since 1966.
Argentina are in outstanding form and continue their title defence as reigning world champions. They won the Copa America for the second consecutive time in 2024 and now have the chance to claim back-to-back World Cup titles as well. La Albiceleste finished top of their qualifying group with 38 points. At the World Cup, Argentina produced a perfect group-stage campaign, winning all three matches to collect nine points.
The knockout rounds have been much more demanding for Lionel Messi's side. They first defeated Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time thanks to an own goal by an African defender. They then produced a remarkable comeback against Egypt, overturning a 2-0 deficit by scoring three goals from the 79th minute onwards. In the quarter-finals, Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1, but once again only after extra time.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Argentina have won every match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Argentina have scored at least three goals in each of their last four matches, while England have netted at least twice in four consecutive games.
- Both teams needed extra time to overcome their opponents in the quarter-finals.
- The last meeting between these sides came in 2005, when England claimed a 3-2 victory.
Probable line-ups
- England: Pickford; Konsa, Stones, Guehi, O'Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
- Argentina: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico; Paredes; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez
Prediction
Reaching the World Cup semi-finals is already a tremendous achievement, but both teams will be fully focused on securing a place in the final. I expect a spectacular contest and my betting pick is for both teams to score.
