2026 World Cup quarterfinals: two tickets at stake

The Argentina National Team sealed its place in the final of the 2026 World Cup after beating England 2-1 at the Atlanta stadium. The rival will be Spain, which eliminated France in the other semifinal. The decisive match will be played on Sunday, July 19 at 1:00 p.m. (Central Mexico time) at MetLife Stadium in New York.

Road to the final

Argentina is seeking the two-time championship, something that a team has not achieved since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Led by Lionel Messi and Lionel Scaloni, the albicelestes left Cape Verde, Egypt, Sweden and England behind. Spain, led by Luis de la Fuente, surpassed Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France.

For the Albiceleste it will be their fourth World Cup final: in addition to the current one and Qatar 2022, they played in Brazil 2014, where they lost to Germany. Spain, on the other hand, is looking for its second star after the 2010 South Africa title.

The broadcast in Mexico will be carried out by Las Estrellas, Canal 5, Azteca 7 and TUDN. MetLife Stadium will be the stage where both teams will define the new world champion.

Euphoria in Buenos Aires

Tens of thousands of fans flooded the center of Buenos Aires after Argentina’s 2-1 victory over England, which qualified the team for the World Cup final. The chants against the historical rival echoed in the Obelisk.

“And you see, and you see, he who doesn’t jump is an Englishman,” they chanted incessantly.

The victory evoked the memory of Mexico 1986, when Diego Maradona scored two legendary goals against the same rival, four years after the Malvinas war. For many, the game symbolizes more than the sport.

“For Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo’s last,” was heard among the crowd.

People cried, sang and hugged each other in the winter rain. Young people climbed light poles with light blue and white flags. Actress Rosana Beto Cruz, a 48-year-old nun, celebrated among strangers: “The national team achieved this. A World Cup makes this happen.”

The match was decided in added time with a goal from Lautaro Martínez, after the equalizer from Enzo Fernández. Argentina, the current champion, will face Spain on Sunday.

Politics and mixed feelings

President Javier Milei declared that he experienced the victory with “immense joy” and that he always trusted in the comeback. He offered the Casa Rosada to celebrate if the team wins the title. However, he asked not to mix matters: “The Malvinas are recovered with wise diplomacy, not with cheap patriotism.”

Hours before, Vice President Victoria Villarruel had written on social networks that Argentina was playing “against the usurping pirates”, fueling the controversy. After the match, players like Giovani Lo Celso showed a banner with the phrase “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which could lead to sanctions from FIFA.

For many fans, the victory had a special flavor due to the historical rivalry. Yanina Quinteros, 40, celebrated with her daughter: “This is more exciting because of the rivalry with England.” María Bertero, also 40, remembered the war: “My heart still hurts for all those boys who were sent to die.”

The figure of Lionel Messi, 39, shone again. Matías Adorno, wearing the captain’s shirt, expressed: “Seeing Messi play like this, at his age, leaves me speechless.”

The celebrations offered a collective respite amid the economic crisis and political polarization. “Today we are all together,” Quinteros summarized.

The advice of a legend

Gilberto Mora has become the great hope of Mexican football. His performances in the 2026 World Cup put him on the radar of European clubs and at the center of praise. However, Argentine Sergio “Kun” Agüero sent him a clear warning: not to lose focus.

In an interview with ESPN Digital, the former Manchester City forward recommended that the 17-year-old isolate himself from outside noise. “Let him continue in the same way and let nothing in his environment distract him from his objective. At 17 years old it is not easy to debut and be in the national team. He must rely on his family and not listen to nonsense from his surroundings, nor that they flatter him so much,” Agüero said.

The former Barcelona player insisted that technical quality is not enough. “He has to focus, surround himself with good people, be respectful and disciplined. That’s how they will want him on any big team. He is very young, he has a long career left. Being 17 years old on the Mexico national team is something very important,” he added.

The challenge of perseverance

For Agüero, the most complex challenge for the Xolos youth squad will be to maintain the consistency shown so far. That factor will be key when he makes his jump to European football, where the demands are greater.

Mora has earned the enthusiasm of the fans, but Kun remembers that the path is just beginning. Discipline and environment will be the pillars for the promise to become a reality.