England’s extra-time escape and Argentina’s late show set up heavyweight World Cup semifinal
England’s extra-time win over Norway and Argentina’s 3-1 extra-time victory against Switzerland have completed the 2026 World Cup semifinal lineup, setting up a blockbuster last-four clash between the defending champions and a resurgent England in Atlanta. With France facing Spain in the other semifinal, the bracket is now locked for a heavyweight finish to the tournament.
England vs Argentina set for blockbuster World Cup semifinal after dramatic quarterfinal wins
The 2026 World Cup semifinal picture is complete, and the standout story of the last 48 hours is England’s meeting with defending champions Argentina being locked in after both nations survived tense quarterfinals to advance.
England came through an extra-time battle against Norway, while Argentina needed 120 minutes to see off Switzerland, setting up a semifinal in Atlanta between two of international football’s modern heavyweights.(https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/live/world-cup-bracket-schedule-scores-results-live-updates-quarterfinals-203257966.html)(https://www.futbol24.com/international/FIFA/World-Cup/2026)
How the semifinal was set
- England 2–1 Norway (after extra time)
England booked their place in the last four with a 2-1 win over Norway after extra time in Atlanta.(https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/live/world-cup-bracket-schedule-scores-results-live-updates-quarterfinals-203257966.html)(https://www.futbol24.com/international/FIFA/World-Cup/2026)
According to the live updates from Yahoo Sports, England advanced thanks to a “heroic brace” from Jude Bellingham, who scored both of their goals in the quarterfinal.(https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/live/world-cup-bracket-schedule-scores-results-live-updates-quarterfinals-203257966.html) The match went to extra time, underlining the fine margins that separated the sides at this stage of the tournament.(https://www.futbol24.com/international/FIFA/World-Cup/2026)
- Argentina 3–1 Switzerland (after extra time)
Argentina completed the semifinal lineup by defeating Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in Kansas City.(https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/live/world-cup-bracket-schedule-scores-results-live-updates-quarterfinals-203257966.html)(https://footballscoreatlas.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/results/) Switzerland finished with 10 players, and the defending champions again left it late to pull away.
As detailed in Yahoo’s recap, struck a "golazo from outside the penalty area" in the 112th minute, before sealed the victory with a stoppage-time rebound to make it 3-1.(https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/live/world-cup-bracket-schedule-scores-results-live-updates-quarterfinals-203257966.html) The win sends Argentina into a , a remarkable run of consistency at this level.(https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/live/world-cup-bracket-schedule-scores-results-live-updates-quarterfinals-203257966.html)