Argentina refuse to fold in a death-defying run to the 2026 World Cup final
Reigning champions Argentina have somehow found an even more dramatic way to defend their crown, riding four straight nerve-shredding knockout comebacks to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Before the knockout stage even began, Argentina looked every bit the team to beat, topping their group with three wins from three. But nothing about their run since has come easy.
Here’s how their run to the final unfolded.
Group stage Dominance
Argentina made a statement from the off, brushing aside Algeria 3-0 in their opener. They followed it up with a 2-0 win over Austria, before rounding off the group with a 3-1 victory over Jordan, finishing top of Group J with a perfect record.
Round of 32: Cape Verde Push Argentina to the Brink Before Late Drama Seals It
World Cup debutants Cape Verde gave the champions the fright of their lives. Lionel Messi put Argentina ahead in the 29th minute, only for Deroy Duarte to level things up for Cape Verde in the second half.
The game went to extra time, where Lisandro Martínez restored Argentina’s lead in the 92nd minute, but Cape Verde hit back again through Sidny Cabral in the 103rd.
Argentina finally settled it deep in extra time when a Cristian Romero effort was turned into his own net by Diney Borges, sealing a 3-2 win.
Round of 16: Argentina’s Great Escape Against Egypt
If Cape Verde was a scare, Egypt was nearly a full-blown ambush. Yasser Ibrahim headed Egypt in front in the 15th minute, and Mostafa Zico doubled their lead in the 67th, putting Argentina on the brink of a stunning exit.
But the champions turned it around in the space of eleven frantic minutes: Cristian Romero pulled one back in the 79th, Messi levelled things in the 84th, and Enzo Fernández completed the comeback with a stoppage-time winner to send Argentina through 3-2.
Quarter-finals: Ten-Man Switzerland Push Argentina to Extra Time Before Álvarez Strikes
Argentina’s fourth straight nail-biter came against Switzerland. Alexis Mac Allister headed them in front early in the 10th minute, before Dan Ndoye pulled Switzerland level in the 67th.
Moments later, Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow for simulation, leaving Switzerland to defend with ten men for the remainder of the match.
They held on well enough to force extra time, but Julián Álvarez produced a stunning strike from distance in the 112th minute, and Lautaro Martínez added a second in the dying seconds to make it 3-1.
Semi-final: Argentina Breaks English Hearts With Two Late, Late Goals
Argentina’s semi-final against England followed the same script that had defined their tournament: absorb the blow, then strike late.
Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute, and for long stretches it looked like Argentina’s title defence would end in Atlanta.
But Enzo Fernández produced a rocket from 20 yards to draw Argentina level in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martínez headed home the winner in the 92nd, sending Argentina through 2-1 and breaking English hearts in the process.
Argentina now await Spain in Sunday’s final, chasing back-to-back World Cup titles against a Spanish side chasing history of their own
