World Cup
2026-07-15 - England vs Argentina
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: World Cup Semi Final
Wednesday 15th July 2026 - Kick Off 3pm (EST)
British Time 8pm
England
Thomas Tuchel was appointed by the English Football Association to push the national team over the line after a successful, but ultimately fruitless time under Gareth Southgate. Two Euro Finals were reached under the previous manager, but Tuchel has helped England match the World Cup Semi Final run of 2018 thanks to the Extra Time win over Norway on Saturday.
Despite the win, Tuchel was far from happy with aspects of the England performance and he will be well aware that the level of opponent increases significantly from the Semi Final onwards. Topping a Group containing Croatia, Ghana and Panama and following up with wins over DR Congo, Mexico and Norway will give England fans confidence and belief, but facing the World Champions means needing to find another gear.
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have been key for England as they bid to reach the World Cup Final for the first time since winning this tournament in 1966. Twice before they have been beaten narrowly in Semi Finals in 1990 and 2018 since then, but England will take some confidence from having beaten Denmark and Netherlands to reach European Championship Finals in 2021 and 2024.
Declan Rice was clearly suffering with an illness, but he should be healthier for this fixture, while Noni Madueke looks to be have played himself out of the starting eleven after another poor outing. Jarell Quansah completes a suspension, but Reece James was back and could be restored to right back.
Predicted Line Up: Pickford, James, O'Reilly, Guehi, Konsa, Rice, Anderson, Bellingham, Saka, Gordon and Kane (4-2-3-1)
Argentina
Moments of magic have been provided by Lionel Messi to help the World Champions find a way through matches, but it was Julian Alvarez who stole the headlines following Argentina's win over Switzerland in the Quarter Final. A second half red card for Breel Embolo changed the complexion of that tie just when Argentina were looking vulnerable and Lionel Scaloni's men overwhelmed the ten men Swiss in Extra Time to earn yet another World Cup Semi Final spot.
The Group Stage was negotiated without much fuss, but Argentina have been involved in plenty of drama in the Knock Out Rounds and that could have an accumulating effect on the squad. Extra Time was needed to finally end the resistance of underdogs Cape Verde before Argentina scored three times in the last eleven minutes in a 3-2 win over Egypt having looked set to be eliminated. Another Extra Time win over Switzerland will give the squad belief that they can turn around any situation.
Scoring three goals in the Quarter Final makes Argentina the highest scorers at the World Cup, although that is partly down to the fact they have been forced into Extra Time twice. It does mean Argentina have played the most minutes of the last four teams at the World Cup, but this is an experienced squad, while the nation played 8 Knock Out ties in reaching World Cup Finals in 2014 and 2022 and 5 of those went into Extra Time or Penalties.
Tactical tweaks in the last two Knock Out ties compared with the formation used earlier in the tournament are interesting and Lionel Scaloni may choose to stick with the current set up.
Predicted Line Up: Emiliano Martinez, Molina, Tagliafico, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Paredes, De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Messi and Alvarez (4-1-3-2)
Head to Head
These two nations have not met since playing an international friendly in Switzerland in November 2005 that ended with two late goals securing England a 3-2 win.
England and Argentina have met five times at the World Cup Finals in 1962, 1966, 1986, 1998 and 2002.
It is England who won in 1962, 1966 and 2002, while Argentina won the big 1986 Quarter Final in 1986.
1998 ended in a draw in the Second Round before Argentina came through on Penalties.
Prediction
The political clash of the early 1980s only increased the animosity between England and Argentina and there is still plenty of that on display in 2026.
On the field, there has been so much controversy when these nations have met in the World Cup Finals.
In 1966, Alf Ramsey described the Argentina players as 'animals' for some of the tackles and gamesmanship shown and it was a tie that featured a red card for Antonio Rattin (who passed away this weekend) after just over half an hour in an era when things like that happened only as the last resort.
Twenty years later, 'The Hand of God' helped Argentina take the lead in the 1986 Quarter Final, but was soon followed by one of the greatest goals in the tournament history with both scored by Diego Maradona.
1998 featured a David Beckham sending off in a match England lost on Penalties in the Second Round, but four years later Beckham scored a winning Penalty in a Group Stage match between the nations that ultimately ended up with Argentina eliminated before the Knock Out Rounds began.
There is no love lost between the nations and this is a huge World Cup Semi Final to be played on Wednesday.
At this stage of the tournament, the margins are so much tighter and any errors are likely to be punished- both Argentina and England may feel they have progressed without reaching their ultimate best level and this has all of the makings of a really close contest with little to choose between the teams.
Neither has looked great at the back, but world stars like Lionel Messi, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have made their mark in the final third.
Despite the performances, you cannot question the character nor the belief of the players who will be on the field and the layers are finding it very tough to split the teams, as is the writer here.
It really does feel like a fixture that could be decided by one of those three players mentioned doing something special at a key time, but it also feels like a Semi Final that is going to be filled with tension on both sides with the importance of what can be achieved.
No love lost between the nations means neither team is going to want to give anything away- Argentina have been more convincing in the final third, but have played the weaker opponents in the Knock Out Rounds, while they also have had the edge over England in the raw defensive numbers. That could ultimately see this Semi Final end in favour of the defending World Champions, but England will have something to say about that and both Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have stepped up when the team has needed them most.
Defences that have given away chances are difficult to completely trust, but Argentina have that slight edge and they may be able to level up the World Cup record with England, which currently stands with the English having three successes to two for the South American nation.
Those chasing a bigger price may choose to select this fixture to end in a draw after ninety minutes (3.00 general).
Others may choose to back the attackers to have the edge overall though and that could lead to plenty of shots on target, which has been the case in England/Argentina games in the Knock Out Rounds of this World Cup. Neither team will be afraid to get the ball into the box from set pieces and both are happy to take shots from outside of the area, which could see at least eight on target between them at odds against.
The Pick :
England 1-1 Argentina (Extra Time Needed)
