England vs Argentina in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup is confirmed for Wednesday 15 July 2026 at 8pm UK time at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and the latest betting odds make England slight favourites.
England advanced with a 2-1 extra-time win over Norway on Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami; Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time in the early hours of Sunday morning at Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City. It’s one of the most historic knockout ties in international football — Betfred have priced up every major market. Below is the full breakdown.
Bet England vs Argentina at Betfred →
Match Result Odds
Betfred make England slight favourites for their first World Cup semi-final since 2018.
| Selection | Betfred Odds |
|---|---|
| England | 6/4 |
| Draw | 21/10 |
| Argentina | 2/1 |
Tuchel’s Three Lions come off the back of a 2-1 extra-time win over Norway at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami — England’s biggest QF result since 2018 and a fixture that showed genuine knockout football grit. Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City in the early hours of Sunday morning. Both sides have shown they can grind out knockout victories — Argentina came from 2-0 down to beat Egypt in the R16, England fought back through a Norway side that had shocked Brazil 2-0 in the previous round.
England at 6/4 sit at the same short-of-Evens price we’ve become accustomed to for major England knockout fixtures. Argentina at 2/1 reflects the champions’ defensive vulnerabilities exposed against Egypt (2-0 down before scoring 3 in the last 15 minutes) and the physical toll of two consecutive extra-time knockout ties.
Betfred 2 Up Early Payout
Betfred’s 2 Up Early Payout promotion is one of their strongest standing offers: if your team takes a 2-goal lead at any point during 90 minutes + injury time, your bet settles as a winner regardless of the final result.
| Selection | 2 Up Early Payout Odds |
|---|---|
| England (with 2 Up) | 11/8 |
| Draw | 21/10 |
| Argentina (with 2 Up) | 15/8 |
Why this matters: In a fixture where either side could theoretically concede a late equaliser, taking the 2 Up Early Payout price provides insurance. England at 11/8 (compared to 6/4 standard) or Argentina at 15/8 (vs 2/1 standard) gives you a slightly reduced price but bank-locked winnings if your team races into a 2-goal lead.
Claim the Betfred 2 Up Early Payout →
Total Goals Odds
Both sides come into this fixture with different attacking profiles. England have scored in every knockout match; Argentina came from 2-0 down vs Egypt showing they can go end-to-end.
| Total Goals Line | Over | Under |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 1/10 | 11/2 |
| 1.5 | 4/9 | 13/8 |
| 2.5 | 6/5 | 8/13 |
| 3.5 | 3/1 | 2/9 |
| 4.5 | 7/1 | 1/16 |
The 2.5 goals market is where the tactical read gets interesting. Under 2.5 at 8/13 reflects that this is a semi-final where both managers may prioritise defensive shape; Over 2.5 at 6/5 reflects Argentina’s high-variance defensive record and England’s attacking output.
The Under 3.5 at 2/9 is close to a formality — a 4+ goal semi-final is rare regardless of the sides involved.
Both Teams to Score
The BTTS market is genuinely balanced.
| Selection | Betfred Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | 5/6 |
| No | 5/6 |
Coin-flip pricing for BTTS. England’s attacking output through Kane and Bellingham vs Argentina’s forwards Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez — both sides carry serious threats. However, both sides have shown they can also grind out low-scoring wins in knockout football.
Goalscorer Odds — Anytime, First, and Last
The goalscorer market is where the fixture’s biggest names sit at prices worth considering.
Top-priced anytime scorers:
| Player | First Goalscorer | Anytime Scorer | Last Goalscorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 4/1 | 7/5 | 4/1 |
| Harry Kane | 4/1 | 6/4 | 4/1 |
| Ivan Toney | 11/2 | 2/1 | 11/2 |
| Ollie Watkins | 11/2 | 2/1 | 11/2 |
| Lautaro Martinez | 13/2 | 5/2 | 7/1 |
| Julian Alvarez | 7/1 | 13/5 | 7/1 |
| José Manuel López | 7/1 | 11/4 | 15/2 |
| Jude Bellingham | 17/2 | 16/5 | 9/1 |
| Anthony Gordon | 10/1 | 4/1 | 11/1 |
| Marcus Rashford | 10/1 | 4/1 | 11/1 |
| Nico Paz | 10/1 | 4/1 | 11/1 |
| Bukayo Saka | 11/1 | 4/1 | 11/1 |
| Eberechi Eze | 11/1 | 9/2 | 12/1 |
| Morgan Rogers | 11/1 | 9/2 | 12/1 |
| Noni Madueke | 11/1 | 9/2 | 12/1 |
| Giuliano Simeone | 12/1 | 11/2 | 14/1 |
| Thiago Almada | 12/1 | 11/2 | 14/1 |
| Nicolás González | 14/1 | 6/1 | 14/1 |
| Enzo Fernández | 14/1 | 13/2 | 16/1 |
| Alexis Mac Allister | 16/1 | 15/2 | 18/1 |
| Declan Rice | 22/1 | 9/1 | 25/1 |
| Cristian Romero | 28/1 | 12/1 | 33/1 |
| No Goalscorer | 6/1 (First) | — | 13/2 (Last) |
The Messi/Kane parallel: Both talismen priced at identical 4/1 first and last, with only their anytime scorer prices separating them (Messi 7/5 vs Kane 6/4). Messi’s 8 tournament goals give him the Golden Boot lead over Kane’s 3, but Kane’s role as England’s captain, penalty taker, and primary striker keeps him at the top of the England attacking market.
Bellingham value at 16/5 anytime: Bellingham has 4 tournament goals and is Real Madrid’s number 10 — his ability to arrive late into the box against Argentina’s midfield could pay at 16/5.
Bet the Goalscorer Markets at Betfred →
Match Result & Both Teams to Score
The combined market for punters who want match result + BTTS in a single bet.
| Selection | Yes (BTTS) | No (BTTS) |
|---|---|---|
| England | 4/1 | 11/4 |
| Draw | 7/2 | 6/1 |
| Argentina | 11/2 | 7/2 |
England to Win + BTTS at 4/1 and Argentina to Win + BTTS at 11/2 are the two most likely “attacking win” outcomes. England to Win + No BTTS at 11/4 reflects a low-scoring England victory (clean sheet at Wembley/Atlanta) — very attractive if you back England’s defensive resilience.
Correct Score Odds
The correct score market provides distinctive pricing for the semi-final’s likely scorelines.
| Score | Betfred Odds |
|---|---|
| 1-0 England | 6/1 |
| 0-0 | 13/2 |
| 0-1 Argentina | 7/1 |
| 2-0 England | 11/1 |
| 1-1 | 11/2 |
| 0-2 Argentina | 14/1 |
| 2-1 England | 9/1 |
| 2-2 | 16/1 |
| 1-2 Argentina | 10/1 |
| 3-0 England | 22/1 |
| 3-3 | 80/1 |
| 0-3 Argentina | 28/1 |
The 1-1 at 11/2 and 1-0 England at 6/1 are the standout probability picks. In a semi-final where both sides may play cautiously in the opening hour, either a narrow England win or a tight draw both look genuinely plausible. 2-1 England at 9/1 is the classic knockout-tie scoreline for a favoured side breaking through late.
The Historic England vs Argentina Narrative
This isn’t just a semi-final — it’s another chapter in one of the greatest rivalries in international football:
- 1966 Quarter-Final: Alf Ramsey’s “animals” — England 1-0 Argentina at Wembley
- 1986 Quarter-Final: Maradona’s Hand of God and Goal of the Century — Argentina 2-1 England
- 1998 Round of 16: David Beckham’s red card, Michael Owen’s wonder goal, Batistuta double, penalty shootout — Argentina won 4-3 on pens
- 2002 Group Stage: Beckham’s redemption — England 1-0 Argentina in Sapporo (Beckham penalty)
- 2005 Friendly: Peter Crouch double + Owen winner — England 3-2 Argentina
- 2026 Semi-Final (confirmed): Wednesday 15 July 8pm UK, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
The head-to-head weight: Every England vs Argentina knockout fixture has produced iconic moments. A World Cup semi-final in 2026 with Messi likely playing his final World Cup game vs Kane’s peak tournament form is a match for the ages — with a place in the World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday 19 July as the prize for the winner.
Betfred Welcome Offer for the Semi-Final
If you don’t yet have a Betfred account, the Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets welcome offer is available for new UK customers. £50 credits within 24 hours of qualifying bet settlement as £30 Sportsbook + £20 Bet Builder tokens — the largest single-token welcome offer on the UK market.
How to claim: Register at Betfred, deposit £10+ via Debit Card, Apple Pay or Truelayer, place a £10 single first bet at minimum odds Evens (2.0). £50 credits within 24 hours to deploy on Wednesday’s semi-final at 8pm UK.
Claim Betfred £50 Welcome Offer →
All odds from Betfred as at time of writing and subject to fluctuation. England vs Argentina Semi-Final confirmed for Wednesday 15 July 2026 at 8pm UK time, Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta. Please gamble responsibly. 18+. BeGambleAware.org | GamCare.org.uk
Andy is the founder, owner and editor of thatsagoal.com, with over 20 years of experience in betting on sports. He has a keen eye for stats, particularly when looking at players to be carded, and these form a large part of the bet builder tips you see on the site. As well as creating daily football tips, Andy also keeps thatsagoal updated with all the best bookmaker promotions and offers for our readers.
