World Cup 2026 Semifinals: France, Spain, Argentina, and England Stand Tall

After 100 matches, the 2026 World Cup has boiled down to four familiar giants of soccer. France, Spain, Argentina, and England remain, each with a rich history of World Cup success. The competition is razor-thin between these powerhouses, making this stage intensely competitive.

The tournament saw surprises along the way — Cape Verde's Blue Sharks captured hearts, Mexico’s Azteca stadium dazzled once again, and the U.S. team played with flair before an unfortunate early exit. Legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić made their final appearances, while traditional heavyweights like Brazil, Germany, and Uruguay stumbled out. Morocco proved their 2022 performance was no accident, and smaller nations like Curaçao, Ivory Coast, and Panama earned respect for their spirited runs.

Fans from the Netherlands, Norway, and Scotland brought unique energy, adding flavor to the event. Yet now, only four remain, all previous champions, and for the first time since 1990, the semifinals feature exclusively former winners. These four teams also top FIFA's rankings, showing no underdogs have made it this far.

France Meets Spain in a Rematch

France and Spain will face off Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET inside the climate-controlled AT&T Stadium near Dallas. This will be their third consecutive semifinal for France and the first clash between them since last year's thrilling Nations League semifinal, which Spain won 5-4. Both squads are loaded with talent and evenly matched, according to Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente, who said, "It's all very tight."

French coach Didier Deschamps, ending a 14-year tenure after four World Cups, expects a spectacular game but still sees Spain as favorites. He praised Spain's recent achievements, including their Euro 2024 title, and warned against underestimating them. France, meanwhile, has bounced back strongly from last year's loss, boasting a 15-1-1 record and a dominant goal difference in this World Cup.

"If you've seen what they’ve done, they have confirmed they’re the favorite," Deschamps said.

Spanish star Lamine Yamal, who just turned 19, dismissed suggestions that Spain should intimidate France, clarifying his words about confidence rather than fear. French midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery echoed the sentiment: "We are not afraid of anybody." Yamal’s youthful unpredictability could pose challenges, but Deschamps remains confident his team has many answers.

Argentina and England Battle for a Final Spot

Wednesday in Atlanta, Argentina defends its crown against an English team hungry to end a six-decade wait for a World Cup final appearance. Argentina has faced tough tests from Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland on their path here. Lionel Messi, sharing the Golden Boot race with Mbappé at eight goals, noted how extraordinary it is to maintain such high standards after winning it all.

"It isn’t easy coming from being world champions and continuing to compete at the top level," Messi said.

England displayed resilience by overcoming deficits against DR Congo, Mexico, and Norway. Star striker Harry Kane voiced the team's collective determination: "That is the missing piece now," referring to finally breaking through to a final.

Stars Ready for Semifinal Showdowns

The semifinals promise thrilling individual matchups, including France’s Kylian Mbappé, who is fully recovered from injury, against Spain’s dynamic Lamine Yamal. Mbappé holds a knockout-stage record of 12 goals over three World Cups, while Yamal hopes to deliver his defining moment soon. De la Fuente expressed hope that Yamal’s big day would come in this match.

Yamal, who celebrated his birthday calmly with his young half-brother Keyne, said he felt relaxed and ready for the challenge ahead. His ideal gift? A victory that sends his team to the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.