Jude Bellingham scored twice as the England national football team defeated the Norway national football team 2-1 after extra time to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and set up a blockbuster clash with defending champions Argentina national football team.
England were forced to come from behind after Norway took the lead in the first half through Andreas Schjelderup, whose powerful strike was awarded following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
The Three Lions drew level just before the interval when Bellingham latched onto a clever pass from Anthony Gordon and calmly slotted home to make it 1-1.
The second half produced end-to-end action, with Norway threatening repeatedly through Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard and Antonio Nusa, but goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a series of crucial saves to keep England in the contest.
Norway also had another goal ruled out after a VAR review, while England survived a late scare when a penalty awarded in extra time was overturned.
With the match seemingly heading for penalties, Bellingham struck again in the 93rd minute of extra time, reacting quickest to a rebound inside the penalty area before rifling the ball into the net for his sixth goal of the tournament.
Coach Thomas Tuchel’s side held firm in the closing stages despite sustained Norwegian pressure, with Pickford and England’s defence frustrating Haaland and his teammates to preserve the victory.
The result keeps alive England’s quest for a second FIFA World Cup title and sends them into a semi-final showdown with Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Argentina secured their place in the last four with a 3-1 extra-time victory over the Switzerland national football team, who played much of the contest with 10 men.
Lionel Messi created the opening goal in Kansas City, delivering a corner for Alexis Mac Allister to head Argentina in front after just 10 minutes.
Switzerland fought back and deservedly equalised in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye finished a well-worked move involving Ricardo Rodriguez.
The contest turned five minutes later when Breel Embolo, already on a yellow card, was sent off for simulation following a VAR review, leaving Switzerland to play the remainder of the match with 10 men.
Argentina dominated possession but could not find a breakthrough in regulation time, with Mac Allister missing a clear header and Messi curling an effort narrowly wide.
The Swiss resistance finally broke in the 112th minute when Julian Alvarez curled a stunning long-range effort into the top corner to restore Argentina’s lead.
Lautaro Martínez then added a third goal in the 121st minute to seal the victory.
The win extended Argentina’s unbeaten World Cup run to 12 matches as coach Lionel Scaloni’s side continued its bid to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup trophy.
Although Messi failed to score, he registered his 10th World Cup assist across six tournaments and remains level with Kylian Mbappé on eight goals in the race for the Golden Boot.
The semi-final against England renews one of international football’s fiercest rivalries. Argentina defeated England in the memorable 1986 World Cup quarter-final, which featured Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal and his famous solo effort, and also eliminated the Three Lions on penalties in 1998.
England gained revenge with a 1-0 victory at the 2002 World Cup, setting the stage for another highly anticipated chapter between the two footballing giants in Atlanta.
