Level 1 — Absolute Beginner
Today, England and Argentina play a big soccer game. It is a World Cup semifinal.
The game is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. For this World Cup, people are calling it Atlanta Stadium.
The weather could be a problem. People think thunderstorms may delay the start of the game.
The winner will play Spain in the final on July 19. England has not won the World Cup since 1966.
- semifinal
- A game played to decide who will go to the final
- thunderstorm
- A storm with thunder, lightning, and heavy rain
- delay
- To make something start later than planned
- stadium
- A large building where sports games are played
- kickoff
- The moment when a soccer game starts
- rivalry
- A long history of competition between two teams
- championship
- A big competition to find the best team
- advance
- To move forward to the next stage of a competition
Level 2 — Elementary
England and Argentina meet today, Wednesday, July 15, in a World Cup semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, a venue temporarily called Atlanta Stadium for the tournament.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time, but weather forecasters warn that thunderstorms moving through the area could delay the start of the match.
Argentina arrives at the game as the tournament's highest scoring team, led by star player Lionel Messi.
England hopes to end a painful 60 year wait for another World Cup title. The team's only championship came all the way back in 1966, and the winner of today's match will move on to face Spain in the final on July 19 in New Jersey.
- forecaster
- A person whose job is to predict future weather
- scheduled
- Planned to happen at a certain time
- highest scoring
- Having scored the most goals so far in a competition
- star player
- A player who is especially skilled and well known
- painful wait
- A long period of waiting that feels difficult or frustrating
- temporarily
- For a limited or short period of time
- tournament
- A series of games played to find an overall winner
- venue
- The place where an event happens
Level 3 — Intermediate
England and Argentina renew one of football's most storied rivalries today, Wednesday, July 15, when they meet in a World Cup semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, a venue temporarily rebranded Atlanta Stadium for the tournament.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time, though forecasters have cautioned that thunderstorms moving through the region could force organizers to delay the match's start.
Argentina enters the contest as the tournament's highest scoring team, with Lionel Messi once again leading the attack that has carried the side this far, while England is chasing a first World Cup title since 1966, a drought that now stretches back 60 years.
The winner will advance to the July 19 final in New Jersey, where Spain is waiting after defeating France 2-0 in Arlington to reach their first World Cup final since they lifted the trophy in 2010.
- storied rivalry
- A long, famous history of competition between two sides
- rebranded
- Given a new name or identity for a specific purpose
- cautioned
- Warned about a possible risk or problem
- contest
- A competition or match between opponents
- drought
- A long period without achieving a particular success
- lifted the trophy
- Won a championship and held up its prize
- organizers
- The people responsible for planning and running an event
- attack (in football)
- The group of players focused on scoring goals
Level 4 — Advanced
England and Argentina renew one of international football's most storied rivalries today, Wednesday, July 15, converging on Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, a venue temporarily rebranded Atlanta Stadium for the tournament, in a World Cup semifinal freighted with both sporting and historical significance.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time, although meteorologists have cautioned that thunderstorms tracking through the region could compel organizers to postpone the match's start, injecting an element of uncertainty into an already tense buildup.
Argentina arrives as the tournament's highest scoring side, with Lionel Messi once again spearheading an attack that has propelled the team through the knockout rounds, while England, seeking to end a 60 year title drought dating back to its lone triumph in 1966, faces a rival whose past World Cup meetings with England are steeped in folklore.
Whichever side prevails will advance to the July 19 final in New Jersey, where Spain awaits after dispatching France 2-0 in Arlington to reach their first World Cup final since claiming the trophy in 2010, ensuring that the eventual champion will have overcome a formidable gauntlet of opponents.
- converging
- Coming together toward the same point
- freighted with
- Loaded or charged with a particular quality or meaning
- meteorologist
- A scientist who studies and predicts weather
- compel
- To force someone to do something
- spearheading
- Leading an effort or attack
- steeped in folklore
- Deeply associated with traditional stories and legends
- dispatching
- Defeating an opponent, often decisively
- gauntlet
- A difficult series of challenges someone must get through
Talk about this article with KatePractice this story's vocabulary in a real spoken conversation with your AI tutor