need to know<\/h2>\nIsmail Elfus has been appointed as the referee for England’s semi-final match against Argentina, as Thomas Tuchel’s England squad competes to advance to the final against either Spain or France.<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n06:54, July 14, 2026<\/span>Updated July 14, 2026 22:02<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
\n\nEngland beat Norway 2-1 and will play Argentina in the semi-finals<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nEverything you need to know as the World Cup reaches the semi-final stage and France face Spain before England face Argentina<\/h3>\n
Outspoken American pundit Alexei Lalas would like to see England reach the World Cup final, but only because they lose more heartbreakingly. “For England to come to our shores on our 250th birthday and win the World Cup for the first time in 60 years… that can’t happen,” he said. “But this is where I’m torn. Now they could lose in the semi-finals, or they could get to the final and experience the ultimate heartbreak and lose in the final hurt.” But Lalas couldn’t help but admit one thing about Thomas Tuchel’s side: “The problem is that this England team is very good, if I may say this… even likeable.” England vs Argentina has already seen the kits each team will wear revealed. England will play in white, while Argentina will play in navy blue at a special request to FIFA, and the referee for this match will be Ismail Elfs, an American official. Elfas has already been in charge for three games and has already drawn criticism for allowing overly aggressive play, with frustrations boiling over in games against Spain and Uruguay and Brazil and Norway. Another storm of racism marred the World Cup after former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said there were “no French players” in France. There has already been a backlash from the French camp, with head coach Warren Zaire-Emery saying ahead of the game: “The French team, like all countries, has players from different backgrounds and origins. We are a united group, we are a united team and that is all that matters.” French star Adrien Rabiot has dismissed the idea that his team is planning on signing Lamine Yamal. “There are no anti-Lamine Yamal plans. We are focused on the Spanish team, not on a single player,” he told reporters. The British government is expected to announce plans for a conditional bank holiday on Friday, July 24, if England end a 60-year blemish at the World Cup. The deal will be announced if the Three Lions beat Argentina to give companies time to prepare. Declan Rice is expected to start against Argentina after being forced off early against Norway. The Arsenal midfielder fell ill last week with suspected food poisoning. FIFA president Gianni Infantino departed the World Cup to express his condolences to Qatar’s late ruler Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. He left Miami on a private jet on Sunday and is expected to return to the United States soon. Lionel Messi will not play in the next World Cup, according to former England star Chris Waddle. “If he thought the team would be better without him, he would stand aside. If I saw him as a player at the next World Cup, I would be very surprised.” Erling Haaland made headlines by returning to Norway with a stuffed raccoon, but was also spotted leaving Norway’s celebrations with the king early. Manchester City striker and Sander Berge have been forced to fly out, with Haaland reportedly heading to Catania on holiday.<\/p>\n
06:54, July 14, 2026<\/span>Updated July 14, 2026 22:02<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/div>\n Outspoken American pundit Alexei Lalas would like to see England reach the World Cup final, but only because they lose more heartbreakingly. “For England to come to our shores on our 250th birthday and win the World Cup for the first time in 60 years… that can’t happen,” he said. “But this is where I’m torn. Now they could lose in the semi-finals, or they could get to the final and experience the ultimate heartbreak and lose in the final hurt.” But Lalas couldn’t help but admit one thing about Thomas Tuchel’s side: “The problem is that this England team is very good, if I may say this… even likeable.” England vs Argentina has already seen the kits each team will wear revealed. England will play in white, while Argentina will play in navy blue at a special request to FIFA, and the referee for this match will be Ismail Elfs, an American official. Elfas has already been in charge for three games and has already drawn criticism for allowing overly aggressive play, with frustrations boiling over in games against Spain and Uruguay and Brazil and Norway. Another storm of racism marred the World Cup after former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said there were “no French players” in France. There has already been a backlash from the French camp, with head coach Warren Zaire-Emery saying ahead of the game: “The French team, like all countries, has players from different backgrounds and origins. We are a united group, we are a united team and that is all that matters.” French star Adrien Rabiot has dismissed the idea that his team is planning on signing Lamine Yamal. “There are no anti-Lamine Yamal plans. We are focused on the Spanish team, not on a single player,” he told reporters. The British government is expected to announce plans for a conditional bank holiday on Friday, July 24, if England end a 60-year blemish at the World Cup. The deal will be announced if the Three Lions beat Argentina to give companies time to prepare. Declan Rice is expected to start against Argentina after being forced off early against Norway. The Arsenal midfielder fell ill last week with suspected food poisoning. FIFA president Gianni Infantino departed the World Cup to express his condolences to Qatar’s late ruler Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. He left Miami on a private jet on Sunday and is expected to return to the United States soon. Lionel Messi will not play in the next World Cup, according to former England star Chris Waddle. “If he thought the team would be better without him, he would stand aside. If I saw him as a player at the next World Cup, I would be very surprised.” Erling Haaland made headlines by returning to Norway with a stuffed raccoon, but was also spotted leaving Norway’s celebrations with the king early. Manchester City striker and Sander Berge have been forced to fly out, with Haaland reportedly heading to Catania on holiday.<\/p>\nEverything you need to know as the World Cup reaches the semi-final stage and France face Spain before England face Argentina<\/h3>\n