Pickford: World Cup feels 'special'

Jordan Pickford is embracing the challenge of Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final against Argentina.

The goalkeeper will come up against Lionel Messi, whom England have never faced before on the international stage.

And Pickford – who became the Three Lions’ record appearance holder at the World Cup in England’s 2-1 win over Norway in the quarter-final, overtaking Peter Shilton – is raring to go.

“He's scored so many goals and he's contributed to so many goals well over his career, and it's great to be able to finally come up against him after so long, from watching him as a kid,” explained Pickford.

However, Thomas Tuchel’s team will be focusing on themselves in preparation for the last-four tie.

"You can't look past the ability and the talent we've got in the squad – going forward, defensively, togetherness,” he explained. We've got it all there and that's what we need to put on show on Wednesday.

"But we also can't just talk about Messi. They're a good side and they're reigning champions.

"They're a good side but we've got so much ability in our squad going forward and we're hard to break down.

"We've got that resilience; we've got that togetherness and we've got that mentality. That's what makes a good team."

England are back at their Kansas City training base and after a final training session tomorrow, they will depart for Atlanta – the same venue where the Three Lions beat DR Congo in the round of 32 when the knockouts got underway.

"I think it's just solely focus on us as England now and us being at our best to beat another top nation," added Pickford.

"It's us against them to get a place in the final, and it's a game of football. 90 minutes, 120, penalties.

"We're ready for anything, and it's us against them and it's about who comes out on top. We're fully prepared for that."

Having been involved at his third World Cup – making his debut in 2018 in Russia, part of the 2022 squad in Qatar and now, the 2026 edition – the Three Lions are on the brink of making it to the final, a position they were in eight years ago.

But still, Pickford and his teammates are taking it game-by-game.

“It’s a great honour,” he said. “We’re reaching targets we want to reach and we’re reaching levels we want to reach and we want to keep pushing. We know the end goal but we always take it step by step.

“Our first chapter was to get through the group stage and then, the manager mentioned going through the grind of Mexico and Congo. Every game’s a challenge. Now, our next challenge is Argentina.

“It feels special but also, it’s a job and we’ve got that togetherness and that mentality that we want to keep pushing. It’s another game of football against a top nation.”