Argentina secured its place in the 2026 World Cup final after a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against England. This victory marks the seventh time in history that Argentina has reached a World Cup final.
Nagib Sawiris praises the Argentine team for their victory against England
Shortly thereafter, Lautaro Martinez netted the decisive second goal to complete the comeback. Following the match, Egyptian businessman Nagib Sawiris commented on the result through his account on the X platform, stating, Frankly, they were the better team, noting that the players led by Lionel Messi deserved the victory based on their technical level within the field.
Lionel Scaloni attributes Argentina’s semifinal comeback to unity and selflessness
Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of the Argentine national team, expressed his immense pride and overwhelming happiness regarding the stunning levels displayed by his squad. In televised remarks, Scaloni noted that words are insufficient to describe the overflowing feelings of joy dedicated to the Argentine people and the entire group. He emphasized that what these players deliver on the pitch is beyond the capacity of people to grasp, inviting absolute astonishment and admiration.
For more on this story, see Kylian Mbappé’s Side Falls Short As Spain Advances to 2026 World Cup Final.
The Argentine coach stressed that the secret to the success of this system lies in the deep connection and honest unity of hearts between the players and the technical staff, with no space for ego. He directed a special and deep thanks to everyone who supports them and to the team members for their natural and pure spirit. Scaloni pointed out that even while trailing during parts of the match, his team showed their true metal and distinct talent to return, confirming that the Argentine jersey is worth sacrificing for until the very last moment, with promises of full effort to try and snatch the title in the final match despite the difficulty of the task.
Lionel Messi sets a new age record in his pursuit of a World Cup title
This victory also carries individual significance, as Lionel Messi became the oldest player in history to participate in a World Cup semifinal at the age of 39 years and 21 days, breaking the previous record held by Fritz Walter and Gunnar Gren.
Argentina has previously won the World Cup three times, in 1978, 1986, and 2022. Their history in finals includes a loss to Uruguay 4-2 in 1930, a 3-1 win against the Netherlands in 1978 after extra time, a 3-2 victory over West Germany in 1986, a 1-0 loss to West Germany in 1990, a 1-0 loss to Germany in 2014 after extra time, and a victory over France via penalty kicks in 2022 after the match ended 3-3. Notably, the Argentine national team has never lost a World Cup semifinal match.
In terms of head-to-head history, Argentina broke their losing streak against England. This was their first victory against the English side since the 1986 quarterfinal, the famous match during which Maradona scored two historic goals. Since then, the two teams had met five times, with England winning their last two encounters and three matches ending in draws, including a 1998 World Cup match where Argentina won via penalty kicks. In total, England has won six times, while Argentina has now achieved their third victory. Six matches have ended in a draw, with one of those instances ultimately decided by penalty kicks in favor of the “Tango.”
This follows our earlier report, Spain Secures 2026 World Cup Final Spot After 2-0 Win Over France.
Argentina is set to face Spain in the final on July 19, 2026, while England will play France in the third-place match.
Find more reporting in our Sports section.
