Argentina ties the match on Enzo Fernández goal
By Los Angeles Times staff
Argentina 1, England 1, 85th minute
Argentina, which had been pressing for an equalizer for the bulk of the second half, finally broke through on an Enzo Fernández goal taken from outside the box.
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Argentina keeps the pressure on but England still holds the lead
By Los Angeles Times staff
England 1, Argentina 0, 84th minute
England continues to hold the lead as Argentina continues to press forward looking for an equalizer.
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England leads heading into second hydration break as Argentina mounts pressure
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford makes a save during the World Cup semifinal match between England and Argentina.
(Jeff Roberson / Ap Photo/jeff Roberson)
By Los Angeles Times staff
England 1, Argentina 0, 69th minute
The teams head into the second-half hyrdration break on the heels of Argentina nearly finding an equalizer off the head of Nico Gonzalez, but Jordan Pickford pushed it aside to keep England ahead.
Messi sends it into the box but the header is DENIED by Jordan Pickford 🏴
WHAT A SAVE TO KEEP ENGLAND IN FRONT! pic.twitter.com/PrYht4s5ux
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 15, 2026
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England breaks through on Anthony Gordon goal
Anthony Gordon scores his side’s first goal in England’s World Cup semifinal match against Argentina.
(Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)
By Los Angeles Times staff
England 1, Argentina 0, 55th minute
England, which had to rally to win two of its three knockout-stage games, struck first early in the second half against Argentina as Anthony Gordon took a cross from Morgan Rogers to score his first World Cup goal.
GOOOOAAL! ANTHONY GORDON GIVES ENGLAND THE LEAD OVER ARGENTINA IN THE SEMIFINALS 🏴
What a moment to score his first career FIFA World Cup goal! pic.twitter.com/3jNy5sKC18
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 15, 2026
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Second half is underway for England and Argentina
England’s Harry Kane, right, leaves the pitch at the end of the first half during the match between England and Argentina
(Rebecca Blackwell / Ap Photo/rebecca Blackwell)
By Los Angeles Times staff
Argentina 0, England 0, 46th minute
The second half has begun in Atlanta as the teams play for a spot in Sunday’s final to face Spain in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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Argentina and England are scoreless at halftime of their semifinal match
By Los Angeles Times staff
England 0, Argentina 0, halftime
It’s halftime in Atlanta as neither team broke through for a goal. England is trying to reach the final for the first time since 1966, when it won its only Wold Cup. Argentina, meantime, is attempting to return to the final for the second consecutive World Cup after winning it in 2022. Today’s winner will face Spain on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Loser will play France in the third-place match on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida.
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England and Argentina remain scoreless as both press for opening score
Players argue during the World Cup semifinal match between England and Argentina in Atlanta.
(Erik S. Lesser / Associated Press)
By Los Angelest Times staff
Argentina 0, England 0, 40th minute
Both teams are starting to assert themselves offensively, even as the game remains chippy.
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Argentina and England are scoreless at the hydration break
England’s Jude Bellingham (10) and Argentina’s Leandro Paredes (5) confront each other during the World Cup semifinal match.
(Stephanie Scarbrough / Ap Photo/stephanie Scarbrough)
By Los Angeles Times staff
England 0, Argentina 0, 25th minute
It remains scoreless at the hydration break in what has been a very chippy semifinal match in Atlanta, with 10 fouls called to this point.
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England and Argetina are underway for the right to face Spain in the final
The flags of England, left, and Argentina are displayed before their World Cup semifinal soccer match in Atlanta.
(Lynne Sladky / Associated Press)
By Los Angeles Times staff
Both teams are unbeaten and each survived scares in the quarterfinals, with England outlasting Norway in extra time in brutal weather in Miami and Argentina beating Switzerland in extra time in Kansas City. Jude Bellingham had a brace in each of England’s last two games to match teammate Harry Kane’s six goals in the tournament. Bellingham is the first player to score at least two goals in consecutive World Cup knockout matches since Diego Maradona in 1986. Argentina, the reigning champion, is unbeaten in its past 12 World Cup games, but four of its last six knockout-stage games have gone to extra time or penalties. Argentina has gotten eight goals and two assists from Messi in this World Cup.
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Arellano: Mexico lost in the World Cup — but Mexican Americans won
A Mexico fan is tossed in the air in downtown Santa Ana after Mexico lost to England in the World Cup on Sunday.
(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
Mexico lost to England 3-2 in the World Cup on Sunday night, yet thousands of Mexican Americans across Southern California took to the streets as if their team had triumphed.
El Tri was eliminated from the tournament in another heartbreaker, but fans set off fireworks, joyously rocked cars and were tossed in the air from Orange County to the Inland Empire to Ventura County and all points in between, just as if we had won the damn thing.
Fans slam FIFA’s cooling breaks. Why the U.S. World Cup team doctor disagrees
Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch, center, speaks to his team during a hydration break during a round of 32 knockout match between Canada and South Africa at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on June 28.
(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
While it may not be remembered as FIFA’s most controversial decision of the 2026 World Cup, the institution of mandatory cooling breaks in all matches has been met with boos and derision, with critics saying the pauses disrupt the game’s flow and offer little benefit in air-conditioned environments.
“They’re in a dome here! Temperature-controlled, climate-controlled — why are we having a break?” fumed one England fan to a radio reporter outside the England-Croatia match in Arlington, Texas, where field temperatures inside AT&T Stadium approached a comfortable 70 degrees Fahrenheit despite an outdoor heat and humidity index near 105 degrees.
But for Dr. Bert Mandelbaum, chief medical officer for U.S. men’s soccer and vice chair of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s orthopedic surgery department, the breaks set an important precedent for prioritizing athlete health in extreme heat, even at the highest levels of competition.
Swanson: Trump’s World Cup meddling only made matters worse for rattled U.S. squad
U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese sits on the field after a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16 at the World Cup on Monday in Seattle.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
SEATTLE — Is everybody happy now? You good, Mr. President?
Put our boys in a blender, President Trump did, with those phone calls to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Messed with their mojo by politicking to get American striker Folarin Balogun’s red card rescinded.
Trump struck out on all his appeals seeking to overturn the 2020 election results, but he can boast that he had a hand in getting a decision overturned in the 2026 World Cup.
With World Cup glory on the line, Argentina fans flock to this family-run Valley mercado
Fans cheer after Lionel Messi scores a goal against Algeria in a group-stage match during an Argentina World Cup watch party at Mercado Buenos Aires in Van Nuys.
(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
On most mornings, in the heart of the San Fernando Valley, Mercado Buenos Aires is quiet. A few older Argentine men might sip coffee with medialunas and chat about soccer and politics in the family-owned deli.
But on a recent June afternoon, as Argentina faced off with Algeria in a group-stage match at the World Cup, soccer fans stood on tables, families in sky-blue-and-white Lionel Messi jerseys chanted in unison, and every goal sent the room into gleeful mayhem.
Swanson: SoFi Stadium proves to be one of the biggest stars of the 2026 World Cup
SoFi Stadium hosted its last game of the World Cup on Friday, a quarterfinal victory for Spain over Belgium.
(David M. Barreda/Los Angeles Times)
Erling Haaland and SoFi Stadium, ladies and gentlemen. Your breakout stars of the World Cup.
We’ve all fallen for the blond forward who has rowed Norway to its first World Cup quarterfinal berth — and also for SoFi Stadium.
Or “Los Angeles Stadium,” FIFA’s designation for the $5.5-billion architectural masterpiece that welcomed the world to Inglewood.
I cover Rams and Chargers games there regularly, but the World Cup changed how I feel about the place. It has more soul now, more character.
How the FIFA World Cup is providing a boost for L.A. businesses
Dioz Group leaders wear some of the FIFA jerseys and apparel they produced and distributed for all employees at the 16 FIFA World Cup venues this summer.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Johnny Beig may have played in a semiprofessional cricket league in Australia, but this summer he’s a big fan of soccer in the United States.
It’s not just because he’s rooting for the World Cup team, though.
FIFA emblems are featured on jerseys that were created by the Dioz Group and distributed for all employees at the 16 FIFA World Cup venues this summer.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Last year, Beig’s Beverly Hills-based company, Dioz Group, won a $2.5 million contract with On Location, FIFA’s hospitality partner, to design, manufacture and distribute uniforms for all employees working at FIFA World Cup venues this summer.
Why not them? Disappointed U.S. players hope their World Cup run inspired future stars
U.S. defender Tim Ream (13), with midfielder Malik Tillman and forward Folarin Balogun, reacts after Belgium scored during their World Cup match at Lumen Field in Seattle on Monday.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
SEATTLE — Last fall, in an effort to inspire a national soccer team lacking in confidence and belief, coach Mauricio Pochettino came up with a slogan for this summer’s World Cup, one the U.S. would be playing at home.
“Why not us?” he asked.
Why couldn’t the U.S. make a deep run in the tournament? Why couldn’t the U.S. compete with the best teams in the world? Why not us?
Monday he got his answer: Because the U.S. just isn’t good enough.
How World Cup senior citizens like Lionel Messi have bio-hacked longer careers
Argentina players toss star Lionel Messi in the air after the team’s World Cup win over Egypt on July 7 in Atlanta.
(Justin Setterfield / Getty Images)
While every World Cup introduces viewers to new young stars, this tournament featured eight players who were older than 40 — one more than the number of over-40 players in the previous 22 World Cups combined.
Among them were Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, and Mexico’s Memo Ochoa, 40, who were playing in their sixth World Cups alongside Argentina’s Lionel Messi, a relative youngster at 39. No one has played in more men’s World Cups.
But while Ronaldo and Ochoa have gone home, Messi will be playing in his third semifinal in four tournaments Wednesday when Argentina, the reigning champion, faces England at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Mexico wins back fans but is still searching for ways to pass familiar World Cup wall
Mexico players cry and embrace after they lost to England at Azteca Stadium on July 5, ending their World Cup run.
(Silvia Izquierdo / Associated Press)
MEXICO CITY — After what may have been the most important game in the Mexican national team’s World Cup history, coach Javier Aguirre hugged each of his 26 players.
The embraces weren’t to celebrate a victory. They were hugs of gratitude, encouragement and, above all, resignation.
Minutes earlier, the players paraded around Azteca Stadium — traditionally an impenetrable fortress — to applaud El Tri fans with tears in their eyes. Mexico had just lost 3-2 to England, extinguishing the hope that it could parlay its World Cup co-host role into the deepest tournament run in the country’s history.
What are your most cherished memories of the 2026 World Cup in L.A.?
(Photo illustration by Tate Rudisill / Los Angeles Times; photos by Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times, Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times, Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times and Kelvin Kuo / Los Angeles Times)
My favorite memory of the 2026 World Cup happened last month. By the late morning of June 18 in Koreatown, hours ahead of the Mexico vs. South Korea group-stage match, it was apparent that the neighborhood would be unrecognizable by kickoff.
I had heard rumblings about the Korean Festival Foundation’s watch party, but once I found out it would take place at Seoul International Park, I was almost dissuaded entirely. Although it is the beloved destination of my dog’s morning walks, its insignificant size and awkward location just off Olympic Boulevard didn’t seem appropriate for such a coveted event. So, I went to scout it out beforehand — and I almost couldn’t believe my eyes. There were already about 100 to 200 fans in the park, about six hours before the first whistle; laughing, drinking, lending a hand to vendor setups.
Why so many Latin Americans are rooting against Argentina in the World Cup
Lionel Messi, left, of Argentina celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Argentina and Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on June 16 in Kansas City, Mo.
(Charlotte Wilson / Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY — Argentina may be the last Latin American team standing in the World Cup, but don’t expect many fans in Mexico to be cheering for La Albiceleste — the lads sporting the classic white and blue stripes.
“There’s no way I want the Argentines to win,” said Roberto García, 55, who owns a clothing shop in the Mexican capital. “How can one sympathize with a team that has such a supremacist, racist discourse?”
The Argentine squad — reigning world champions led by seemingly ageless superstar Lionel Messi — faces off Wednesday in a semifinal match against England. Argentina is seeking its fourth World Cup, which would put it in a second-place tie for global titles with Germany and Italy, trailing only Brazil and its five cups.
Folarin Balogun says his red card controversy ‘didn’t help’ U.S. at World Cup
U.S. star Folarin Balogun leaves the field after a loss to Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 on July 6 in Seattle.
(Ted S. Warren / Associated Press)
Folarin Balogun insists that the red card controversy surrounding him during the World Cup was not the reason the U.S. lost 4-1 to Belgium in the round of 16.
But, the breakout American star said Tuesday on NBC’s “Today” show, “it didn’t help.”
“As an athlete, you go into a game that’s already difficult enough with everything that goes on, the pressure,” Balogun said. “So to have more pressure, not just internally [but also] from almost the whole footballing world, was difficult. But it’s not an excuse. We were disappointed with the way it ended, but there’s still a lot to be proud of.”
Norway star Erling Haaland left the U.S. with seven World Cup goals and a taxidermy raccoon, sparking a run on the item
Norway’s Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring during a World Cup round of 16 game against Brazil on July 5 in East Rutherford, N.J.
(Frank Franklin II / Associated Press)
Erling Haaland is a character.
Hardcore soccer fans already knew that about the Premier League’s top scorer. Casual fans certainly found out during Norway’s run to the World Cup quarterfinal round, where they lost 2-1 to England on Saturday.
Case in point: After the team’s plane landed at Oslo Airport on Monday, the 6-foot-5 striker with flowing blond hair stepped out with a rather unusual carry-on tucked under his left arm.
Seven reasons why U.S. men’s soccer keeps crashing out of the World Cup
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino waves to the crown after a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Seattle on July 6.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Before this summer’s World Cup, FIFA asked the 48 participating teams to provide a list of songs to be played during warmups and goal celebrations and, if appropriate, after victories. On the U.S. list was John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” which quickly became the anthem of the team’s run through the tournament.
A more appropriate choice would have been the Buzzcocks’ “Sixteen Again,” because once again that’s where the Americans’ World Cup ended.
In the round of 16. Again.
This was supposed to be the year the U.S. broke through. With a roster full of players from major European teams and 13 who were World Cup veterans, a lack of quality and experience no longer were valid excuses.
How VAR, a system designed to correct errors, became this World Cup’s biggest villain
Croatia’s Igor Matanovic (20) kneels after his team lost to Portugal and was eliminated from the World Cup on July 2. After VAR review, the referee overturned a Croatia goal that would have tied the game and possibly altered the outcome.
(Sam Balkansky / Associated Press)
Croatia’s World Cup was seconds away from being over and Portugal was seconds away from the round of 16 when Ivan Perisic sent a long, desperate cross into the penalty area. The ball bounced off bodies like a pinball before magically, unbelievably, caroming into the net.
Gooooooallllllll!!!!
Fate had given Croatia a reprieve.
But as pandemonium broke out in the stands and on the pitch, Norwegian referee Espen Eskas stood in the middle of the celebration in Toronto, hand to his ear, listening to a voice half a continent away in Dallas.
Spain delivers surprise rout of France, clinches berth into World Cup final
Spain players celebrate after beating France during a World Cup semifinal Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.
(Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
ARLINGTON, Texas — In a World Cup boasting a galaxy of stars, a lunch-bucket team of blue-collar everymen may wind up outshining them all.
Spain clinched a berth to the final Tuesday by smothering France 2-0 at AT&T Stadium, running its unbeaten streak to 37 games while eliminating a team that had run roughshod through the tournament.
And it wasn’t even close. France came into the game with 16 goals, second only to Argentina in the tournament, then failed to put a shot on goal in the first 81 minutes.
World Cup semifinals schedule: Start times for every match and how to watch
Argentina’s Lionel Messi controls the ball during a win over Switzerland in the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday. Argentina plays England in the semifinals on Wednesday.
(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals are underway, with defending champion Argentina facing England on Wednesday.
World Cup co-hosts U.S., Canada and Mexico will be watching from the sideline after being eliminated in the round of 16.
Here’s everything you need to know about Wednesday’s match (all times Pacific):
Looking back at the first 31 days of the World Cup
The first 31 days of the 2026 FIFA World Cup offered plenty of memorable moments.
Check out The Times’ daily recaps ahead of Wednesday’s semifinal match between England and Argentina:
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