World Cup Semifinals Are Set: France-Spain and England-Argentina Collide for a Spot in the Final

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has its final four. France, Spain, England and Argentina booked their places in the semifinals after a knockout round that delivered late drama across North American stadiums, setting up two heavyweight clashes for a spot in the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The first semifinal pits France against Spain on Tuesday, July 14, at 3 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The second sends England against Argentina on Wednesday, July 15, at 3 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. It is a lineup stacked with pedigree: France and Argentina are recent world champions, Spain is the reigning force of European soccer, and England is chasing a first men's world title since 1966.

Argentina advanced on the strength of a long-range strike from Julian Alvarez in the 112th minute against Switzerland, the kind of moment that has defined the reigning champions' run. Spain, meanwhile, powered past Belgium in the quarterfinals, extending a dominant tournament for a side loaded with midfield talent and a relentless pressing game. England survived its own tense knockout tests to reach the last four, while France leaned on its trademark blend of pace and firepower.

The matchups carry weight beyond the bracket. England-Argentina revives one of the sport's most storied rivalries, a fixture freighted with history from the 1986 "Hand of God" to the 1998 and 2002 meetings. France-Spain, a repeat of recent major-tournament battles, promises a tactical chess match between two of the deepest squads in the world.

This is the first World Cup expanded to 48 teams and the first hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada, and the tournament has drawn record crowds to venues across the continent. The semifinals in Texas and Georgia are expected to fill stadiums that seat more than 70,000, with global television audiences in the hundreds of millions.

The individual storylines are just as compelling as the team matchups. Argentina's run has again leaned on the brilliance of its attacking talent, while Spain's young core has controlled matches with the possession-heavy style that has become its signature. France's depth of firepower and England's resolute knockout form set up a final four with no obvious favorite. The golden boot race, the tactical adjustments and the sheer weight of national expectation will all collide over three days in the American South.

Whoever emerges will meet in Sunday's final in the New York metropolitan area, the culmination of a monthlong tournament that has mixed upsets, extra-time heroics and star turns from the game's biggest names. For now, the stage is set for two of the most anticipated matches of the summer — a final four featuring four nations that have combined for multiple World Cup titles and generations of soccer history.