Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Quarter Final – Norway v England – Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S. – July 11, 2026 England’s Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane celebrate after the match as England qualify for the semi finals of the World Cup REUTERS/Paul Childs
What is it about World Cups that end in “6” for England?
It has been 60 years since they lifted their first and only championship as the host nation at Wembley Stadium against West Germany. Forty years ago, they were undone by the controversial brilliance of Diego Maradona and Argentina in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals in Mexico.
Six minutes into the second half of that match, Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal put Argentina ahead, doing so with the outside of his left hand, which went undetected. Four minutes later, he scored what is called “The Goal of the Century,” going on a meandering 60-yard run through the English defense and faking goalkeeper Peter Shilton so badly that he ended up on his backside before finishing at a tough angle.
Now, England and Argentina meet in the 2026 World Cup semifinals on Wednesday in Atlanta with two very different stories to write.
Argentina is the defending World Cup champion and is still led by the ageless wonder that is the 39-year-old Lionel Messi, who is in the hunt for the Golden Boot with eight goals at this tournament. But La Albiceleste have been woefully underwhelming, though sometimes it is better to be lucky than good.
After breezing through a ridiculously easy group, Argentina needed extra time to get past debutants Cape Verde in the Round of 32, came back from 2-0 down late to beat Egypt in the Round of 16, then needed a controversial red card shown to Breel Embolo to sneak past Switzerland in extra time in the quarterfinals.
England is the toughest opponent they’ll face yet, though the Three Lions have not necessarily dominated during this run to the semifinals, either. They had to come back to beat DR Congo in the Round of 32, outlasted Mexico in a dizzying last-16 meeting at the famed Azteca, then came back to down Erling Haaland and Norway on Friday.
The difference is that England manager Thomas Tuchel has built his team to win in myriad of ways. It is capable of slugging it out with the firepower headlined by Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, but it can also grind it out despite the patchwork back line that has had to deal with injuries to Reece James and the suspension of Jarell Quansah.
It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that England will not just have to beat Argentina, but the referees, as well. The hope is that controversy does not overshadow what should be an entertaining clash with a trip to New York and the World Cup Final on the line.
For more on England and Argentina at the World Cup, visit AMNY.com
