England vs Argentina: Confirmed lineups with Lionel Messi for 2026 World Cup semifinals

Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, will go head-to-head with England to determine who will face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

By Matías Persuh

Updated on July 15, 2026 05:00PM EDT

**© Getty Images**Jude Bellingham (L) Lionel Messi (R).

Spain have already secured their place in the 2026 World Cup final, and now all that remains is to find out who will be their opponent. Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, take on England in the other semifinal in Atlanta with an important change in the starting lineup.

Lionel Scaloni decided to make a tactical change to the team that defeated Switzerland in the quarterfinals. The Three Lions, meanwhile, endured a physically demanding battle against Norway, leaving several players with fitness concerns heading into this crucial game.

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With Harry Kane denying rumors of a broken locker room, England are looking to reach a long-awaited World Cup final. Argentina, the reigning champions, are hoping to replicate what they accomplished four years ago in Qatar. What happens today will decide whether Argentina or England face Spain on Sunday.

Argentina’s confirmed starting XI

There has been plenty of speculation surrounding potential changes to Argentina’s starting lineup following their impressive victory over Switzerland. Lionel Scaloni finally decided to tweak his tactical setup benching Rodrigo De Paul, and will send this XI onto the field:

Lionel Scaloni, Head Coach of Argentina.

Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Giuliano Simeone, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez.

Who is the referee for England vs Argentina today at the 2026 World Cup?

England’s confirmed starting lineup

Thomas Tuchel recently received encouraging news regarding the status of Declan Rice, who will be available to start against Argentina. In doing so, the manager will field this starting lineup:

Jordan Pickford; Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Djed Spence; Elliott Anderson, Declan Rice; Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon; Harry Kane (C).

A place in the Final

With referee Ismail Elfath in charge, this match will ultimately determine who takes on Spain on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Whether it’s Argentina or England in the final, the winner of the 2026 tournament will be a team that already belongs to the list of all-time World Cup champions.

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Matías Persuh

Matias Persuh is a sports journalist and writer who began his career after graduating with a bachelor's degree in Sports Journalism in 2008. Over the years, he has covered numerous events, including local soccer games, and has conducted interviews with players and coaches. In addition to his writing, Matias has contributed as a columnist on various radio shows. Joining Bolavip US in July 2024 marked a significant step forward in his career, allowing him to continue developing his skills and delivering resonant news about U.S. sports to the audience.