Why Does Aboutrika Want Argentina to Reach the 2026 World Cup Final?
Egyptian football legend Mohamed Aboutrika has revealed that he is hoping Argentina will defeat England and book their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final when the two sides meet in Wednesday's semifinal.
The former Egypt international admitted that his dream final would see Argentina face Spain after La Roja secured their spot in the showpiece by beating France 2-0 on Tuesday.
Will Aboutrika's Dream Final Become Reality?
Speaking on beIN Sports after Spain's victory over France, Aboutrika said: "We already watched a final between Spain and England at UEFA Euro 2024. Now we want to see a final between Spain and Argentina."
The 47-year-old believes England would be a more favorable opponent for Spain while Argentina would pose a much greater challenge because of the presence of Lionel Messi.
He also highlighted how heavily both teams rely on their biggest stars. "England are all about two players, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. The team has scored 13 goals, and those two have scored 12 of them. Argentina on the other hand, are all about Lionel Messi."
Aboutrika concluded by asking: "Who will make the difference for their team: Kane and Bellingham, or Messi?"
Argentina and England will battle for the second place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Wednesday, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, where Spain are already awaiting the winner.
2026 World Cup (semi-final): Date, time and TV channels for the Argentina vs England match