England eliminated from World Cup 2026 after late Argentina collapse in Atlanta

England’s hopes of reaching their first men’s World Cup final since 1966 were extinguished in Atlanta on Wednesday, as Argentina overturned a half-time deficit to secure a 2-1 victory. The match, which saw England dominate the early stages, turned on its head in injury time when Fernandez equalised and Martinez scored the winner in the second minute of stoppage time. The result ends England’s tournament, with the team now set to face France in the third-place play-off.

Defender Dan Burn, who came on as a second-half substitute while England led 1-0, described the loss as "absolutely gutted" and admitted it would "haunt" him for a long time. Burn noted that the team became "too passive" after taking the lead, conceding too many crosses and failing to maintain the defensive tightness that had characterised their previous rounds against Mexico and Norway. He attributed the collapse partly to the pressure of the occasion, stating it was "human nature" to become nervous when so close to a final.

Captain Harry Kane echoed the sentiment of devastation, highlighting the tactical shift that allowed Argentina to regain momentum. Kane, who has scored six goals at the tournament, admitted the side "struggled to keep the ball" and "struggled to put pressure on the ball" after going ahead. He noted that this inability to control the game in the final third has been a "missing piece" in England’s performances over the past four or five major tournaments.

Head coach Thomas Tuchel provided a stark assessment of the team’s physical shortcomings, stating they were "not physical enough" to win duels or hold possession once Argentina shifted the momentum. Despite the disappointment, Tuchel confirmed he retains the full backing of the Football Association. He signed a contract extension prior to the tournament that ties him to the role until after the 2028 European Championship, which England will co-host, and he expressed confidence that the squad remains capable of winning major titles.

The exit also brings attention to Argentina’s post-match celebrations, where a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" was displayed. The gesture is considered a breach of FIFA rules on political action and team misconduct, potentially exposing the Argentine Football Association to disciplinary action similar to a £20,000 fine imposed in 2014. Meanwhile, England captain Kane remains on track for the Golden Boot, though he trails Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, who are both on eight goals.

Jude Bellingham praised the squad’s effort, stating he "can't fault" the fight shown throughout the tournament. However, the defeat marks another semi-final exit for England in two of the past three men’s World Cups, compounding previous failures in the 2021 and 2024 European Championships. The team will now regroup for the third-place match against France, with Tuchel emphasising the need to digest the loss and focus on the reaction.