The World Cup has reached its business end, and for the first time in tournament history the last four is made up of the top four ranked sides in the world. France, Spain, England and Argentina have all fought through brutal knockout football to get here, and now only two matches stand between them and a place in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium on 19 July.
Here’s how both semi-finals could go.
France vs Spain — Tuesday 14 July, Dallas Stadium, 3pm ET
This is the collision the whole tournament has been building toward: the two best teams in the world, going head-to-head with a World Cup final on the line.
France arrive in ruthless form. Kylian Mbappé has been the most dangerous forward left in the competition, carrying his scoring streak through wins over Sweden, Paraguay and a battling Morocco side in the quarter-final. Around him, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé give Les Bleus a front line capable of hurting any defence in the world.
Spain, though, have been just as relentless — unbeaten through the entire tournament, with wins over Portugal, Austria and Belgium along the way. Mikel Merino has turned into their unlikely super-sub, scoring late winners in back-to-back knockout games, while Lamine Yamal continues to look like the most exciting teenager the World Cup has produced in a generation.
The prediction: This has the feel of a final eight days early. Spain’s control of possession and their habit of finding a way late in games gives them a slight edge, but expect France to strike first through Mbappé. A tight, high-quality contest that could easily go beyond 90 minutes — leaning narrowly toward Spain, potentially in extra time.
England vs Argentina — Wednesday 15 July, Atlanta Stadium, 3pm ET
Forty years on from Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God,” England and Argentina meet again with a World Cup final at stake — and this time it’s Lionel Messi chasing history.
Argentina needed extra time to see off Switzerland in the quarter-finals, with Julián Álvarez’s stunning strike and a late Lautaro Martínez goal doing the damage. Messi hasn’t scored since the group stage but has still been directly involved in Argentina’s run to a sixth straight World Cup semi-final, and the reigning champions will fancy their chances of reaching back-to-back finals.
England, meanwhile, have grown into the tournament. Harry Kane’s goals carried them through the group stage, but it’s been Jude Bellingham who has taken over in the knockouts — two goals in the quarter-final win over Norway pushed his tally to six for the tournament and put him firmly in the Golden Boot conversation. Gareth Southgate’s side will be desperate to end a wait for a first World Cup title since 1966.
The prediction: Argentina’s big-game experience and their habit of finding late goals make them dangerous, but England look sharper and more balanced than at any point since the group stage. Expect a cagey opening hour before Bellingham makes the difference — a narrow edge to England, but this one could go either way.
The bigger picture
Whatever happens over these two nights, the 2026 final on 19 July is shaping up to be one of the great World Cup showpieces — four genuine heavyweights, four legendary players in Mbappé, Yamal, Messi and Bellingham, and a trophy still very much up for grabs.
