England are set to face Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final on Wednesday, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm in England — 3pm local time in Atlanta, where there is currently a five-hour time difference.

The match will be held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, temporarily renamed Atlanta Stadium under FIFA's commercial regulations for the tournament. The venue is among the most technically advanced at the World Cup, equipped with a retractable roof and a climate-cooling system that should shield players from the heat — a notable concern after England's experience in Miami on Saturday.

England's road to the semi-final

This is only the fourth time in England's history that the national side have reached a World Cup semi-final. The previous appearances came in 1966 — when they went on to lift the trophy — and in the heartbreaking exits of 1990 and 2018. Sixty years on from that famous victory, England will be looking to recapture that same momentum.

England have already played at this venue during the tournament, beating DR Congo in the round of 32 in a dramatic finish, with Harry Kane netting two late goals to seal the win. Kane and Jude Bellingham remain the creative driving forces for the side as they push into the final four.

Argentina's route and Messi's record-breaking run

Standing in England's way are the reigning world champions, Argentina. Their path to the semi-finals has been far from straightforward — they needed extra time to overcome Cape Verde and Switzerland, and produced a remarkable comeback to defeat Egypt in the round of 16.

At the heart of everything, as ever, is Lionel Messi. At 39 years old and possibly appearing at his final World Cup, Messi has been extraordinary. His eight goals at this tournament have lifted his career World Cup total to 21, surpassing Miroslav Klose's long-standing record of 16 to become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.

Notably, England and Argentina have not met in a competitive fixture since the 2002 World Cup, when England claimed a 1-0 group-stage victory — a result that helped erase the bitter memories of the 1998 clash between the two sides.

Wednesday's encounter promises to be one of the most compelling World Cup semi-finals in years, with the advantage of an enclosed, climate-controlled stadium reducing the likelihood of weather delays typically associated with open-air venues.