England and defending champions Argentina will renew one of football’s most iconic rivalries at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday night (8pm UK time), with a place in the 2026 World Cup final against European champions Spain up for grabs.
It’s a rivalry that’s steeped in history, from England’s 1-0 victory in 1966 en route to winning the trophy, to Diego Maradona’s Hand of God and Goal of the Century in 1986, and Michael Owen’s stunning solo goal and David Beckham’s subsequent sending off in 1998.
Read on for the best of the World Cup stats in the build-up to what promises to be another compelling chapter in this rivalry.
England vs Argentina stats you might see
More Messi milestones
- Lionel Messi (8) needs one more goal to become Argentina’s outright highest-scorer at a single World Cup, surpassing Guillermo Stabile (8 goals in 1930).
Lionel Messi has the chance to etch his name even further into World Cup history when Argentina take on England tonight, in what will be his first ever appearance against the Three Lions.
If he scores, Messi will become Argentina’s outright top scorer in a single World Cup, moving clear of Guillermo Stabile, who scored eight goals for La Albiceleste at the inaugural tournament in 1930.
A goal would also make Messi just the sixth player in history to score nine or more goals at a single World Cup, and the first since Germany’s Gerd Müller reached 10 at the 1970 tournament.
It would also see the Argentine captain equal Ademir’s South American record of nine goals at a single World Cup, set for Brazil in 1950.
Kane & Bellingham can make English history
- Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham can both become the first ever England players to score 7+ goals at a single major tournament (currently both on 6).
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have without doubt been England’s star performers so far this tournament, especially in front of goal, where they’ve scored 12 of England’s 13 goals to date.
The Golden Boot contenders are level on six goals apiece, which has equalled Gary Lineker’s (1986) – and Kane (2018) – record for most goals scored by an England player at a single major tournament. It’s also the first time in World Cup history that a country has had two players score 6+ goals – and there’s still two games to go.
Both Kane and Bellingham now have the opportunity to make history by becoming the first England players to score more than six goals at a single major tournament.
Kane chasing Ronaldo
- Harry Kane (14) needs one more goal to go level with Brazil’s Ronaldo on 15 World Cup goals.
Only four players have ever scored more World Cup goals than Harry Kane, who is joint-fifth in the all-time standings alongside Germany’s Gerd Muller.
Kane, who has six goals this tournament, needs only one more goal to draw level with Brazil’s Ronaldo on 15 World Cup goals, while he’s only two goals off Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16).
Lionel Messi remains the frontrunner on 21 goals, ahead of Kylian Mbappe on 20.
Brace yourself for Bellingham
- Jude Bellingham could draw level with Peru’s Teofilo Cubillas as the only midfielders to ever score 2+ goals at the World Cup on three different occasions.
Jude Bellingham has been in sensational form for England this tournament, netting six goals en route to the semi-finals.
Bellingham has scored a brace in each of his last two games against Mexico and Norway, meaning the Real Madrid star now has the opportunity to draw level with Peru’s Teofilo Cubillas as the only midfielders to ever score 2+ goals at the World Cup on three different occasions.
Kane’s caps
- Harry Kane will set a new record for most England caps (121) from an outfield player.
Harry Kane is set to earn his 121st England cap against Argentina, moving clear of Wayne Rooney into top spot in the country’s all-time appearance list for outfield players.
Only goalkeeper Peter Shilton (125) has represented England more times.
Argentina’s winning run
- Argentina are gunning for their 14th successive win in all competitions.
Argentina’s extra-time win over Switzerland stretched their winning run to 13 matches in all competitions, six of which have been at the current World Cup. If they beat England, they will have won 14 successive games in all competitions, and seven straight World Cup games for the first time in their history.
They are now unbeaten in 12 World Cup matches since a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening game of the 2022 tournament.
Argentina haven’t lost since a 1-0 defeat to Ecuador in September, which is their only defeat in their last 21 games since November 2024.
Argentina’s glut of goals
- Argentina have scored 17 goals at the 2026 World Cup and need just one more to set a new record for their highest-ever tally at a single edition of the tournament.
The goals have been flowing for Argentina this tournament, with 17 scored in their six games today – more than any other country. They now need just one more to set a new record for their highest-ever tally at a single edition of the tournament.
Argentina will be bidding to extend their own record of scoring 2+ goals in 13 successive World Cup matches, while they could become the second country in World Cup history to score 3+ goals in five straight matches after France.
England edge H2H
- England are aiming for their third successive win against Argentina.
England have won six and lost only three of the 14 internationals against Argentina and head into tonight’s game unbeaten in five games in this fixture dating back 40 years to the famous Argentina 2-1 win at the 1986 World Cup. However, it must be noted that England did lose on penalties at France 1998, although this is classed as a drw by FIFA.
England have triumphed in each of the last two games, which includes a dramatic 3-2 friendly victory in 2005 and a 1-0 group stage win at the 2002 World Cup, thanks to a David Beckham penalty.
Argentina have never lost a semi-final
- Argentina have won all five semi-finals they’ve played at the World Cup.
Only Brazil (5), Germany and Italy (both 4) have won more than Argentina’s three World Cup titles, while they can draw on an impressive semi-final record, having progressed from each of their five last-four matches at the tournament in 1930, 1986, 1990, 2014, and 2022.
When they first won the World Cup in 1978, it was a tournament that didn’t have semi-finals with the winner of each group advancing straight through to the final.
The Tuchel effect
- Thomas Tuchel is bidding to extend his unbeaten start to life as England manager to 15 competitive matches.
Thomas Tuchel has the opportunity to become only the second England manager to lead the country through to a World Cup final after Sir Alf Ramsey in 1966.
If England do overcome Argentina in the semi-final, Tuchel will become the fourth foreign manager to reach the final and the first since 1978 when Austria’s Ernst Happel took Netherlands to the final.
England have yet to lose a single competitive game since Tuchel took charge in 2025. Since then, the German has overseen 13 wins and one draw from 14 competitive clashes.
Meanwhile, his return of 16 of his 20 matches in all competitions is the best win rate (80%) of any manager who has overseen 10+ games in charge of a European country.
Scaloni’s final quest
- Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni can become only the seventh manager to reach two World Cup finals.
Lionel Scaloni is enjoying an unbeaten run of 12 games at the World Cup, having only lost one match at the tournament, which was his first back in 2022 to Saudi Arabia.
The Argentine did of course go on to lead his country to World Cup glory in Qatar and now has the chance to become only the seventh manager to manage in two World Cup finals after Vittorio Pozzo (Italy: 1934 & 1938), Helmut Schon (Germany: 1966 & 1974), Mario Zagallo (Brazil: 1970 & 1998), Carlos Bilardo (Argentina: 1986 & 1990), Franz Beckenbauer (Germany: 1986 & 1990), and Didier Deschamps (France: 2018 & 2022).
Gaps between finals
- If England make the final it will be the longest ever gap between final appearances (60 years).
We’ll end on this one. If England do go on to make the final it will be the longest gap between final appearances in World Cup history, with their last appearance dating back 60 years to 1966.
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