Few rivalries in football get talked about as much as England and Argentina, and few get argued about as loosely. People remember the Hand of God, Beckham’s red card and the penalty shoot-out in Saint-Étienne. Fewer remember that England have the better overall record, or that Argentina have never beaten them at Wembley. The numbers tell a more mixed story than the legends do.
This article collects the main figures for england national football team vs argentina national football team stats: the overall record, the World Cup record, venues, scorers, the 2026 semi-final in detail, where each side is now, and a table of the last ten meetings. Five FAQs are at the end.
The Overall Record
The two sides have met 15 times in official matches, according to Wikipedia’s rivalry page, which counts from the first meeting on 9 May 1951 at Wembley to the World Cup semi-final on 15 July 2026 in Atlanta. The record on its table is:
| Played | England wins | Draws | Argentina wins | England goals | Argentina goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Friendlies and other | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 10 |
| Total | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 22 | 17 |
One caveat on how to read this. The 1998 World Cup match finished 2–2 after extra time and Argentina won 4–3 on penalties, so it counts as a draw in the table above. The same Wikipedia page’s introduction describes the record as six England wins to four Argentina wins, which counts the shoot-out as an Argentine victory. Neither is wrong; they just count the shoot-out differently. Whichever way you look at it, England have the edge overall, and Argentina have won the matches that mattered most in the knockout rounds.
There is also a match that is not in the table. In May 1953, Argentina beat an England “FA XI” 3–1 in Buenos Aires. England treat it as an unofficial game because they fielded a second-string team, and neither the AFA nor FIFA lists it as a full international, although Argentina count it as their first win over England. Three days later the two played an official match that was abandoned after 23 minutes because of heavy rain, with the score at 0–0. The Wikipedia table includes that second game as an official draw.
Where the Matches Were Played
Venue turns out to be the most interesting split.
At Wembley (6 matches): England won three (1951, 1966, 1980) and drew three (1974, 1991, 2000). Argentina have never won there.
In Argentina (2 matches): the 1953 abandoned game and a 1–1 draw at La Bombonera in 1977. Neither side won.
On neutral ground (7 matches, by my count): England won three (1962 in Chile, 2002 in Japan, 2005 in Switzerland), Argentina won three (1964 in Brazil, 1986 in Mexico, 2026 in the United States), and one went to penalties (1998).
Wikipedia’s own summary lists six neutral matches, which looks like it was written before 2026 was added. The count above includes the 2026 game.
So all three Argentine wins came away from both teams’ home grounds, and all three were by a single goal: 1–0 in 1964, 2–1 in 1986 and 2–1 in 2026.
The World Cup Record
Six of the fifteen matches were World Cup games, and they are where the rivalry gets its reputation. The record there is split evenly in wins: England won in 1962, 1966 and 2002, Argentina won in 1986 and 2026, and 1998 went to Argentina on penalties.
| Year | Stage | Venue | Result (ENG–ARG) | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Group stage | Rancagua | 3–1 | Flowers, Charlton, Greaves; Sanfilippo |
| 1966 | Quarter-final | Wembley | 1–0 | Hurst |
| 1986 | Quarter-final | Azteca, Mexico City | 1–2 | Lineker; Maradona (2) |
| 1998 | Round of 16 | Saint-Étienne | 2–2 (Arg 4–3 pens) | Shearer, Owen; Batistuta, Zanetti |
| 2002 | Group stage | Sapporo | 1–0 | Beckham |
| 2026 | Semi-final | Atlanta | 1–2 | Gordon; Fernández, L. Martínez |
In knockout rounds, Argentina lead 3–1: they eliminated England in 1986, 1998 and 2026, and England eliminated Argentina only in 1966. Both sides have knocked the other out on the way to winning the World Cup, England in 1966 and Argentina in 1986.
Other Numbers Worth Knowing
Goals per game. Across the 15 matches there have been 39 goals, an average of 2.6 per game. That is higher than most people expect from a rivalry with a reputation for tense matches.
Close games. Seven of the fifteen were decided by one goal (1951, 1964, 1966, 1986, 2002, 2005 and 2026). Two were won by two goals (the 3–1 results in 1962 and 1980). Six were draws.
Clean sheets. There have only been a few: England in 1966 and 2002 (both 1–0 wins), Argentina in 1964 (1–0), and the two goalless games in 1953 and 2000.
Top scorer. Michael Owen has scored three goals in the fixture, one at the 1998 World Cup and two in the 3–2 win in Geneva in 2005. Several players have two: Maradona (both in 1986), Lineker (one in 1986 and one in 1991), Kempes (both in 1974), and David Johnson (both in 1980).
Highest-scoring matches. The 2005 friendly in Geneva, which England won 3–2 with goals from Rooney and Owen (twice) against Crespo and Samuel, produced five goals, the most of any single match. The 1998 game had four in 120 minutes plus a shoot-out.
The 1998 shoot-out. Argentina won 4–3, with goalkeeper Carlos Roa saving penalties from David Batty and Paul Ince. David Beckham was sent off earlier in the match, a moment that shaped English football coverage for years afterwards.
The 2026 Semi-Final in Numbers
The most recent meeting is also the one with the most data available. It took place on 15 July 2026 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Argentina won 2–1, and the stats show how one-sided the second half became.
Goals: Anthony Gordon scored for England in the 55th minute from a Morgan Rogers cross. Enzo Fernández equalised for Argentina in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez headed the winner in the 92nd minute, after a Mac Allister shot hit the post. Both Argentine goals were assisted by Lionel Messi.
Match stats from Sports Mole and FotMob:
| Stat | England | Argentina |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 2 |
| Possession | 36% | 64% |
| Total shots | 5 | 15 |
| Shots on target | 2 | 5 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 0.53 | 1.59 |
| Touches in opposition box | 7 | 28 |
| Corners | 1 | 6 |
| Fouls | 11 | 15 |
| Yellow cards | 1 | 3 |
Official FIFA possession figures were 35% for England and 56% for Argentina, with the remaining 9% classed as “in contest”, so the two sources differ slightly. What is consistent is the pattern after England scored. Coaches’ Voice reported Argentina had more than 80 percent of the ball after Gordon’s goal, and Wikipedia’s account puts it at 88 percent, with two shots on the post. England dropped deeper after taking the lead, and the late goals followed.
England’s lineup (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Stones, Guéhi, Spence; Rice, Anderson; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane. Konsa, Burn and O’Reilly came on late.
It was a bad-tempered game. Four yellow cards were shown (three to Argentina), 26 fouls were committed, and players were pushing each other by the third minute. Some Argentine players also displayed a banner after the match that referred to the Falkland Islands, which caused a controversy. Thomas Tuchel’s tactics after England took the lead were widely criticised in the English media.
Last 10 Meetings (Table)
Here are the ten most recent official meetings, with the most recent first. The score is shown as England first.
| # | Date | Competition | Venue | Score (ENG–ARG) | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 Jul 2026 | World Cup, semi-final | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | 1–2 | Gordon; Fernández, L. Martínez |
| 2 | 12 Nov 2005 | International friendly | Stade de Genève, Geneva | 3–2 | Rooney, Owen (2); Crespo, Samuel |
| 3 | 7 Jun 2002 | World Cup, group stage | Sapporo Dome | 1–0 | Beckham (pen) |
| 4 | 23 Feb 2000 | International friendly | Wembley Stadium, London | 0–0 | None |
| 5 | 30 Jun 1998 | World Cup, round of 16 | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne | 2–2 (Arg 4–3 on pens) | Shearer (pen), Owen; Batistuta (pen), Zanetti |
| 6 | 25 May 1991 | Challenge Cup | Wembley Stadium, London | 2–2 | Lineker, Platt; C. García, Franco |
| 7 | 22 Jun 1986 | World Cup, quarter-final | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | 1–2 | Lineker; Maradona (2) |
| 8 | 13 May 1980 | International friendly | Wembley Stadium, London | 3–1 | D. Johnson (2), Keegan; Passarella |
| 9 | 12 Jun 1977 | International friendly | La Bombonera, Buenos Aires | 1–1 | Pearson; Bertoni |
| 10 | 22 May 1974 | International friendly | Wembley Stadium, London | 2–2 | Channon, Worthington; Kempes (2) |
Across these ten, England won three, Argentina two (one on penalties after a draw), and five were draws. Goals are very close, with England scoring 17 and Argentina 16. Note that the penalty scorers for 1998 and the 2002 goal are listed as given by Wikipedia’s match table and a text summary of the game, where Beckham scored the winner from the spot after a foul on Owen.
Where the Two Teams Stand Now
England
England finished third at the 2026 World Cup, losing the semi-final to Argentina and then beating France in the third-place match. Over the eight matches, they won six, drew one and lost one. They are ranked fourth in the world on Wikipedia’s latest listing, with Thomas Tuchel still in charge.
Since the tournament, England have started the UEFA Nations League with a 3–2 loss to Spain, followed by wins of 2–0 away to Czechia, 7–0 in Croatia and 3–0 over Czechia at Wembley on 6 October. They have 14 goals in four matches. Harry Kane scored twice in the last of those and drew level with Peter Shilton on 125 caps. England’s next games are Croatia and Spain in November.
Argentina
Argentina reached the 2026 final and lost 1–0 to Spain, finishing as runners-up. Wikipedia lists them second in the FIFA ranking as of July. The bigger story is the end of an era: Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on 31 August, after 207 appearances and 125 goals, and played one final farewell game against Benin on 6 October, scoring a penalty in a 3–0 win. That made it 208 caps and 126 goals.
Argentina have not lost a match since the World Cup final: they beat Bolivia 4–0, Burkina Faso 7–0 and Benin 3–0 in the autumn friendlies. In November they play Uruguay and Costa Rica at home, their first matches without Messi, and Lionel Scaloni’s contract is reported to expire in December.
What the Stats Suggest About the Next Meeting
No meeting between the two is currently scheduled. If one does come up, the numbers point to a few things.
England are hard to beat in England and in friendlies. Argentina have never won at Wembley, and England have won three of the nine friendlies against one for Argentina.
Argentina’s wins are narrow and tournament-based. All three came by a single goal, at neutral venues, in competitions where Argentina found a way to win late. The 2026 game fits the pattern.
Without Messi, the fixture changes. He has never scored against England, but he was involved in the most recent goals: assisting both of them in 2026. His absence will make Argentina look different, which makes the 2026 semi-final a kind of full stop on one era of the rivalry.
Final Thoughts
The england national football team vs argentina national football team stats show a rivalry that is more balanced than its reputation suggests. England lead with six wins to three, and have the better goals record, at 22 to 17. Argentina lead where it counts for the legend: they have beaten England in three of the four World Cup knockout meetings, and in the biggest match of the last twenty years.
The numbers do not capture the Hand of God, the Beckham red card or Rattín refusing to leave the pitch in 1966. But they do show why both sets of fans think they have the better claim: each side’s best results came in the games that people remember most.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the head-to-head record between England and Argentina?
In 15 official meetings, England have won six, Argentina three and six have been drawn, with England scoring 22 goals to Argentina’s 17. That counts the 1998 World Cup match as a draw, since it was 2–2 before Argentina won on penalties. Some sources count that as an Argentina win, which makes it six to four.
2. What was the score in England vs Argentina at the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina won 2–1 in the semi-final on 15 July 2026 in Atlanta. Anthony Gordon scored for England in the 55th minute, and Enzo Fernández (85′) and Lautaro Martínez (90+2′) scored for Argentina, both assisted by Lionel Messi.
3. Has Argentina ever beaten England at Wembley?
No. England have played Argentina six times at Wembley, winning three and drawing three. All three Argentine wins have come at neutral venues: Rio de Janeiro in 1964, Mexico City in 1986 and Atlanta in 2026.
4. Who has scored the most goals in England vs Argentina matches?
Michael Owen, with three: one at the 1998 World Cup and two in the 3–2 friendly win in Geneva in 2005. Maradona, Lineker, Kempes and David Johnson have each scored two.
5. When will England and Argentina play again?
I could not find a scheduled fixture. England’s next matches are Nations League games against Croatia and Spain in November, and Argentina are due to play Uruguay and Costa Rica. Any future meeting would be announced by the FA and the AFA.
