The 2026 World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina is truly misleading in terms of a possible outcome. The game will be held this Wednesday, July 15, at Atlanta Stadium, starting at 3:00 pm ET.

The British team could be considered a “black beast” if you look at the history of confrontations, but the Albiceleste has never lost in the semi-finals of a World Cup: whenever it reached this phase it advanced to the final.

But there is another interesting fact. This will be Argentina's seventh World Cup semi-final, but they have always played them against a different opponent. Now it will be the first time he does it against England, which statistically is a tough nut to crack.

The 14 duels that Argentina and England have played: 5 in World Cups

Historically, both teams faced each other 14 times: 9 friendlies and 5 duels in World Cups, the most recent being in Korea Japan 2002, with a 1-0 victory for England.

And this is where the nickname “black beast” for the British team comes from, since Argentina could only win in 2 of the 14 games. However, curiously, both victories were in World Cups and one includes the quarterfinals of Mexico 1986, with Maradona's famous “hand of god.”

History in World Cups

History in friendlies

It has been 21 years since they last met and 24 years since it was in a World Cup. A lot has changed now, but history weighs on these types of matches. Will it be an English victory or will Argentina tame the lion?