FIFA World Cup 2026: Semi-Final Lineup Set as France, Spain, England and Argentina Battle for a Final Spot
The FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final picture is complete, with four heavyweight footballing nations left standing after a dramatic quarter-final round. France face Spain on July 15, before England take on Argentina on July 16, in what promises to be a mouth-watering final four.
Notably, this is the first time the world's top four FIFA-ranked teams have all reached the World Cup semi-finals, with Argentina, Spain, France and England occupying the top four spots in the latest rankings.
France vs Spain pits two of Europe's most in-form sides against each other. France have been ruthlessly efficient on their way here, beating Sweden 3-0 in the round of 32, edging out Paraguay 1-0 in the last 16, and dispatching Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals without conceding a single goal in any of those three games. Spain have matched that control in their own way, seeing off Austria 3-0, then needing just one goal to beat Portugal in the round of 16, before grinding past a stubborn Belgium 2-1 in the last eight.
England vs Argentina is the standout tie of the round, and both teams have taken the hard road to get here. England needed extra time in the quarter-finals to see off Norway 2-1, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice, including a dramatic 93rd-minute winner, after Norway had led through Antonio Schjelderup. Argentina also required extra time in their quarter-final, coming from behind to beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 after Breel Embolo's second-half red card. Both sides have leaned on knockout-stage resilience throughout the tournament, England needed a 3-2 win over Mexico in the round of 16, while Argentina survived a 3-2 last-16 win over Egypt and a 3-2 extra-time win over Cape Verde in the round of 32.
The standout individual story of the tournament remains Lionel Messi, who has been directly involved in goals throughout Argentina's campaign, from a hat-trick against Algeria in the group stage, to further goals against Austria, Jordan, Cape Verde and Egypt in the knockout rounds, taking his tournament tally to eight. He'll now face an England side built around the in-form Bellingham, fresh off his quarter-final brace.
With both semi-finals promising goals, drama and knockout football at its highest level, fans have a blockbuster week ahead before a place in the World Cup final is decided.