FIFA World Cup 2026 England: Schedule, How to Watch, Semi Final, History & Record
England are one win away from a first World Cup final in 60 years. The World Cup 2026 England campaign has reached the semi-finals, where Thomas Tuchel’s side face reigning champions Argentina on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Atlanta Stadium. It is the Three Lions’ first World Cup semi-final since 2018.
England topped Group L ahead of Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, then survived three knockout thrillers: a comeback win over DR Congo, a 10-man victory against co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca, and an extra-time quarter-final against Norway settled by Jude Bellingham.
Tuchel, in charge since January 2025, has delivered the structure and pressing identity he promised. England qualified with a perfect record of eight wins, 22 goals scored, and none conceded, and they remain unbeaten through six matches at this 17th World Cup appearance.
World Cup 2026 England Schedule & Results
England have won five and drawn one of their six matches so far. All times are British Summer Time (BST), with US Eastern Time in brackets for the semi-final.
| Date | Round | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Jun 17 | Group L | England 4-2 Croatia | Dallas Stadium |
| Tue, Jun 23 | Group L | England 0-0 Ghana | Boston Stadium |
| Sat, Jun 27 | Group L | England 2-0 Panama | New York New Jersey Stadium |
| Wed, Jul 1 | Round of 32 | England 2-1 DR Congo | Atlanta Stadium |
| Sun, Jul 5 | Round of 16 | Mexico 2-3 England | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Sat, Jul 11 | Quarter-Final | Norway 1-2 England (AET) | Miami Stadium |
| Wed, Jul 15 | Semi-Final | England vs Argentina (3:00 PM ET) | Atlanta Stadium |
England won Group L with seven points from a 4-2 win over Croatia, a goalless draw with Ghana, and a 2-0 win over Panama, with Bellingham and Harry Kane scoring in the group closer.
Kane’s late double rescued the Round of 32 tie against DR Congo, Bellingham struck twice in the 3-2 win over Mexico after Jarell Quansah’s red card, and Bellingham scored in the 44th minute and again in extra time to beat Norway in the Miami heat.
Check the full World Cup 2026 schedule for all remaining fixtures and kick-off times.
World Cup 2026 England Semi-Final: England vs Argentina
England vs Argentina kicks off at 8:00 PM BST (3:00 PM ET) on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium). The winner meets France or Spain, who contest the other semi-final in Dallas on July 14, in the final on Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium. The third-place match is on Saturday, July 18, in Miami.
Argentina arrive as defending champions and have done it the hard way: extra time against Cape Verde in the Round of 32, a comeback from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16, and a 3-1 extra-time win over Switzerland in the quarter-final.
Lionel Messi sits joint-top of the Golden Boot race with eight goals, level with France’s Kylian Mbappé, while Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham both have six for England.
For England, Quansah is suspended for the second match of his two-game ban and Jordan Henderson is out with a broken arm, while Reece James has recovered from injury. The fixture revives one of the World Cup’s great rivalries: Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ quarter-final in 1986, the 1998 shootout in Saint-Etienne, and David Beckham’s penalty winner in 2002, England’s last World Cup meeting with Argentina.
How to Watch England vs Argentina in the UK
BBC One shows England vs Argentina live and free on Wednesday, July 15, with streaming on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. A valid UK TV licence is required. The other semi-final, France vs Spain on July 14, is live on ITV1 and ITVX.
BBC Sport and ITV Sport share free-to-air UK rights to all 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup, and the final on July 19 will be shown on both BBC and ITV. See our guide to streaming the World Cup 2026 final for every option. In the United States, the semi-final airs on FOX, and FIFA+ streams selected matches free worldwide.
How to Listen to World Cup 2026 England Matches
BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra carry live commentary of England’s matches, available on DAB, on FM at 693 or 909 kHz, and through the free BBC Sounds app. talkSPORT also covers the tournament on DAB and via its app. Both services stream online, so fans travelling to the US can listen abroad.
England World Cup History & Record
England invented the game, then spent decades trying to win it. Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick in the 1966 final at Wembley settled a 4-2 win over West Germany, and that summer remains the pinnacle of English football. Everything since has been measured against it.
Titles and Finals
England won the 1966 World Cup as hosts, beating West Germany 4-2 in the Wembley final. They reached the semi-finals in 1990 and 2018, losing both and finishing fourth. The 2026 semi-final against Argentina is their fourth in World Cup history, and their best chance of a second title in 60 years.
Tournament Results
| Year | Stage Reached | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Group Stage | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1954 | Quarter-Final | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| 1958 | Group Stage | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 1962 | Quarter-Final | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 1966 | Winners | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| 1970 | Quarter-Final | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 1982 | Second Round | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 1986 | Quarter-Final | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
| 1990 | Fourth Place | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 6 |
| 1998 | Round of 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| 2002 | Quarter-Final | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| 2006 | Quarter-Final | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010 | Round of 16 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 2014 | Group Stage | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 2018 | Fourth Place | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 8 |
| 2022 | Quarter-Final | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 4 |
| 2026 | Semi-Final (in progress) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 6 |
Overall Record
| Appearances | W | D | L | GF | GA | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 (1950 to 2026) | 37 | 23 | 20 | 117 | 74 | Champions (1966) |
Key Records
England are one of eight nations to have won the World Cup and the only British nation to do so. The 2026 run is their fourth World Cup semi-final, after 1966, 1990, and 2018, and their first knockout meeting with Argentina since 1998.
Harry Kane, England’s all-time leading scorer, is playing his fourth World Cup, while Jude Bellingham’s four knockout goals have made him the face of the tournament.
England FIFA World Cup 2026 FAQs
Is England in the World Cup 2026 semi-final?
Yes. England beat Norway 2-1 after extra time on July 11, 2026, to reach the semi-finals. They face reigning champions Argentina on Wednesday, July 15, at 8:00 PM BST (3:00 PM ET) at Atlanta Stadium, their first World Cup semi-final since 2018.
What TV channel is England vs Argentina on?
BBC One shows the semi-final live and free in the UK, with streaming on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. A valid UK TV licence is required. In the United States, the match airs on FOX.
How did England reach the 2026 World Cup semi-final?
England won Group L with seven points, beating Croatia 4-2 and Panama 2-0 and drawing 0-0 with Ghana. In the knockouts they beat DR Congo 2-1 in the Round of 32, Mexico 3-2 in the Round of 16, and Norway 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-final.
When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 final?
The final is on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at 8:00 PM BST (3:00 PM ET) at New York New Jersey Stadium, and it will be shown on both BBC and ITV in the UK. If England beat Argentina, it will be their first World Cup final since 1966.
Who is England’s head coach?
Thomas Tuchel has been England’s head coach since January 1, 2025. The German manager previously managed Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich, and has now taken England to a World Cup semi-final in his first tournament.
How many World Cup titles has England won?
England have won the World Cup once, in 1966, beating West Germany 4-2 at Wembley with a Geoff Hurst hat-trick. They finished fourth in 1990 and 2018, and the 2026 semi-final is their first since then.
Who are England’s key players at the 2026 World Cup?
Jude Bellingham has been England’s standout performer, scoring twice against Mexico and twice against Norway. Captain Harry Kane, England’s all-time top scorer, scored both goals in the comeback win over DR Congo, with Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice central to Thomas Tuchel’s system.
When did England last play Argentina at a World Cup?
The 2002 group stage, when David Beckham’s penalty gave England a 1-0 win. The rivalry also includes Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ quarter-final in 1986 and England’s penalty-shootout defeat in the 1998 Round of 16.
The World Cup 2026 England story now comes down to one night in Atlanta. Beat Argentina on July 15 and Tuchel’s side will play for the trophy at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, sixty years to the summer since Wembley 1966.
Unbeaten in six, with Bellingham in the form of his life and Kane still delivering in the biggest moments, England have never had a better chance of a second star.
