England booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 extra-time victory against Norway at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, while defending champions Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in Kansas City.
England 2-1 Norway (AET)
Norway drew first blood in the 36th minute when Andreas Schjelderup finished with a composed strike beating Jordan Pickford.
Erling Haaland was kept quiet throughout by England’s organized defense and failed to add to his goal tally.
The Three Lions responded strongly. In the 45+2nd minute of first-half stoppage time, Jude Bellingham skipped past his marker producing a moment of magic with a powerful low drive.
Equalizing in emphatic fashion and lifting the spirits of the England camp.
However, they will be no more goal in regular time – although Norway saw one chalked off for Haaland’s foul on Elliot Anderson in the second half.
Extra time brought renewed urgency. Bellingham delivered again in the 93rd minute. He was on point to catch a rebound inside the box, rifling the ball low into the middle of the net.
His brace and tireless midfield performance proved the difference in a contest defined by resilience and key individual moments.
Norway pushed hard for a late equalizer, but England’s defense stood firm to secure a hard-earned win that highlighted their character in knockout football.
Argentina 3-1 Switzerland (AET)
In Kansas City, Lionel Messi‘s Argentina survived a stern test from a resilient Switzerland side.
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring early with a fine header assisted from a Messi corner kick, whose nine-game World Cup scoring streak ended but whose creativity remained pivotal.
Switzerland equalized through Dan Ndoye in the second half, and the game turned chaotic when Breel Embolo received a second yellow card, leaving the Swiss with 10 men from the 72nd minute.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Switzerland held firm until extra time.
The decisive peak came in the 112th minute when Julian Alvarez picked up Jose Lopez’s short square pass, the latter then curled his shot straight into the top right corner.
Lautaro Martinez sealed the 3-1 win deep into stoppage time with a great shot into the bottom right corner, ensuring Argentina’s march toward back-to-back titles continues.
Semi-Final Preview: Blockbuster Fixtures Await
The semi-finals promise fireworks. England will face Argentina on Wednesday in Atlanta in what many are calling a dream tie packed with star power, tactical mastery, and historical narrative.
Messi versus Bellingham and Kane. Thomas Tuchel‘s pragmatic approach against Scaloni’s flair.
England will need to neutralize Argentina’s attacking threats while exploiting transitions, building on their extra-time heroics.
On the other side, France take on Spain in a European heavyweight clash, setting up a potential final for the ages.
Both England and Argentina have shown they can grind out results under pressure, making this World Cup knockout stage one of the most exciting in recent memory.
These quarter-final triumphs underscore the drama of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
With passionate crowds, high-stakes moments, and elite talent on display, football fans worldwide are treated to unforgettable nights.
England and Argentina now stand one step from the final—can the Three Lions finally end their wait, or will Messi and Co. defend their crown? The world watches.
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