Argentina, England, France, and Spain remain in the hunt for football’s ultimate prize as the FIFA World Cup enters its decisive stage.
The World Cup 2026 semifinals are set to deliver two blockbuster encounters as Argentina, England, France, and Spain continue their pursuit of football’s most prestigious trophy.
With four former champions still alive in the tournament, fans are guaranteed a thrilling finish to the competition.
Defending champions Argentina are aiming to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully retain the World Cup title.
Lionel Scaloni’s side has shown remarkable resilience throughout the tournament, overcoming several difficult challenges on the road to the last four.
Argentina needed extra time to get past Cabo Verde in the Round of 32 and produced a dramatic comeback from two goals down against Egypt.
The South American giants then secured a 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in the quarterfinals after Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez found the net following Dan Ndoye’s equalizer.
Although Lionel Messi failed to score against Switzerland, the Argentine captain remains tied with France star Kylian Mbappe at the top of the Golden Boot standings with eight goals. Argentina’s strength has also come from its squad depth, with seven other players contributing goals during the campaign.
England, meanwhile, has displayed strong character under Thomas Tuchel. The Three Lions recovered from setbacks against DR Congo, Mexico, and Norway to book their place in the semifinals.
Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the tournament’s standout performers, scoring twice against Norway and taking his tally to six goals, level with Harry Kane as England’s leading scorer.
The upcoming semifinal between Argentina and England revives one of football’s most historic rivalries. However, Scaloni has downplayed the significance of past encounters, insisting the focus remains solely on the match ahead.
The other semifinal will see France take on Spain in a fascinating tactical battle. France has won all six of its matches, scoring 16 goals while conceding only twice. Mbappe continues to lead Les Bleus’ attack as they target a third World Cup title.
Spain has impressed with its defensive solidity, conceding just one goal throughout the tournament. Young winger Lamine Yamal and impact substitute Mikel Merino have played key roles in Spain’s run to the final four.
The winners of the two semifinals will advance to the World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, where football’s biggest prize awaits.