England just booked a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway, and the ripple effects are reaching well beyond the pitch. Jude Bellingham scored both goals at Miami Stadium on July 12, sending the Three Lions into a clash with Argentina on July 15 in Atlanta.
Bellingham delivers, and the bracket gets interesting
Bellingham has been the story of this tournament for England. Both goals against Norway came from the Real Madrid midfielder, cementing his status as one of the most decisive players in international football right now.
In the group stage, England beat Croatia 4-2, defeated Panama 2-0, and drew 0-0 with Ghana. The knockout rounds saw them dispatch Congo DR and Mexico before the Norway thriller.
The semi-final opponent is Argentina. The two nations share one of football’s most storied rivalries, with iconic clashes in 1986 and 1998 still etched into the collective memory of fans on both sides. That 1986 quarter-final alone, featuring Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” and his extraordinary solo goal, remains arguably the most talked-about single match in World Cup history.
