England Edge Norway, Argentina Beat Switzerland to Reach World Cup Semi-Finals

England and Argentina will face each other in a mouthwatering FIFA World Cup semi-final after both nations emerged victorious from dramatic quarter-final encounters on Saturday, keeping their dreams of lifting football’s biggest prize alive.

England came from behind to defeat Norway 2-1 after extra time in a fiercely contested clash at Miami Stadium. Norway stunned the Three Lions in the 36th minute when Andreas Schjelderup unleashed a spectacular strike to give his side the lead. However, Jude Bellingham once again proved England’s talisman, scoring a crucial equaliser just before halftime to restore parity.

The second half produced several tense moments, including a Norwegian goal ruled out following a VAR review and missed opportunities at both ends. With the match deadlocked after 90 minutes, Bellingham capitalised on a goalkeeping error early in extra time to score his second goal of the night and send England into the World Cup semi-finals. The victory marks England’s fourth appearance in the last four of a major tournament in recent years, although head coach Thomas Tuchel admitted his side will need to improve ahead of the next round.

A few hours later in Kansas City, defending champions Argentina overcame Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in another gripping quarter-final. Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in the first half with a header from Lionel Messi’s corner, but Switzerland responded through Dan Ndoye midway through the second half to force extra time.

The contest turned in Argentina’s favour after Swiss striker Breel Embolo was sent off following a second yellow card, leaving Switzerland to play the remainder of the match with 10 men. Julián Álvarez broke the deadlock in the 112th minute with a sensational long-range strike before Lautaro Martínez added a late third goal to seal Argentina’s place in the semi-finals. Messi, despite not finding the net, played a key role by providing the assist for the opening goal and orchestrating much of Argentina’s attacking play.

The results set up one of the tournament’s most anticipated fixtures as England and Argentina prepare to renew one of international football’s fiercest rivalries in the semi-finals. The winner will advance to the World Cup final, while the other semi-final will see France take on Spain in a battle between two European heavyweights.

Both quarter-finals highlighted the resilience of the remaining title contenders. England relied on Bellingham’s brilliance to overcome a spirited Norwegian side led by Erling Haaland, while Argentina demonstrated the composure and experience of reigning champions by surviving another demanding knockout encounter. With four of the world’s highest-ranked teams now left in the competition, football fans can expect two blockbuster semi-finals as the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup enters its decisive stage.