Argentina was once again among the four best teams in the world. Lionel Messi's team defeated Switzerland 3-1 after overtime and advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, where they will face England on Wednesday, July 15 in Atlanta.

The new development of the national team sparked interest in the country where Messi, Diego Maradona and some of the most important figures in the history of football were born. But Argentina is much more than its light blue and white shirt: it is one of the largest territories on the planet and brings together large cities, mountains, glaciers, jungles, vineyards and thousands of kilometers of coastline.

Where is Argentina on the map?

Argentina is located at the southern tip of South America. It extends from subtropical regions near the Tropic of Capricorn to Tierra del Fuego, one of the southernmost inhabited points of the continent.

It borders Chile to the west, largely separated by the Andes mountain range; with Bolivia and Paraguay to the north; and with Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast and east. It also has an extensive coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.

Due to its location and elongated shape, the country brings together very different climates and landscapes. In the north there are jungles, warm areas and the Iguazú Falls. In the center are the great agricultural plains and Buenos Aires. To the west the Andes and the vineyards of Mendoza appear, while the south is marked by Patagonia, glaciers and mountains.

What is the capital of Argentina?

The capital is Buenos Aires, one of the largest and most influential cities in Latin America. It is located next to the Río de la Plata and concentrates a good part of the country's political, cultural and economic activity.

Buenos Aires is known for neighborhoods such as Palermo, San Telmo, La Boca and Recoleta, in addition to its theaters, bookstores, cafes, stadiums and buildings of European architecture. The city is also one of the great world centers of tango.

How big is Argentina?

Argentina is the second largest country in South America, after Brazil, and the eighth largest in the world. Its continental territory occupies around 2.78 million square kilometers, approximately one third of the area of ​​the United States.

The internal distances may surprise visitors. Traveling from Buenos Aires to destinations in Patagonia, the northwest or Iguazú Falls may require several hours by plane.

Why is Argentina famous?

For millions of people, the first association is with football. Argentina won the 1978, 1986 and 2022 World Cups, and now seeks to defend the title won in Qatar. Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona are its most universal figures, although the country also produced players such as Alfredo Di Stéfano, Mario Kempes, Gabriel Batistuta, Ángel Di María and Julián Álvarez.

Argentine culture is also known for tango, mate, carne asada, empanadas, dulce de leche and malbec wine. Spanish is the predominant language, although the pronunciation and some words have their own characteristics, especially in Buenos Aires and the Río de la Plata region.

You can see: How to drink mate: the favorite drink of Messi and millions of Argentines

The best-known landscapes of Argentina

The country has a natural diversity that is difficult to summarize in a single image. Among its most famous places are:

Buenos Aires, Patagonia and Iguazú usually make up the most popular tours among those who visit the country for the first time.

Argentina and England, a semi-final with history

Argentina will face England for a place in the 2026 World Cup final. The match will be played on Wednesday, July 15 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. It will be the first meeting between both teams since 2005 and will once again confront two countries that starred in some of the most memorable matches in World Cup history.

For Argentina, the goal is to become the first team to win two consecutive World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. For Messi, it will be another opportunity to get closer to a new final with the shirt of the country where he was born and began a story that ended up making him a global figure.