World Cup Semifinals Loom: France Faces Spain Today, England Battles Argentina Tomorrow
The highly anticipated semifinals feature the top four ranked teams in the world vying for a coveted spot in Sunday's grand finale.
The story
After a day of rest, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is poised for its semifinal clashes, with no matches played on July 13th. The football world now eagerly awaits two monumental encounters that will determine the finalists.
First up, France takes on Spain today in what many are calling an 'early final' due to the quality of both sides. This will be followed by a historic rivalry renewed as England faces defending champions Argentina tomorrow.
These matchups promise intense tactical battles and individual brilliance, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the tournament. The pause has only heightened the anticipation for these defining moments on the road to the World Cup trophy.
Where it stands
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has reached its final four, with France, Spain, England, and defending champions Argentina making up the semifinalists. Remarkably, this marks the first time since FIFA rankings began in 1992 that the top four ranked teams in the world have all reached this stage.
France is set to play Spain, while England will face Argentina. The winners will advance to the final, with the losing semifinalists competing for third place. The knockout bracket is fully formed, leading to the final on July 19th.
Off the pitch
| Player | From | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Vuskovic | Tottenham | Brighton | £46m |
| Karl Darlow | Leeds United | Manchester United | Free Transfer |
| Andrey Santos | Chelsea | Manchester United | £48m |
What we'll be watching
- France vs Spain: Semifinal, Tuesday, July 14, Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium, Arlington), 3 p.m. ET
- England vs Argentina: Semifinal, Wednesday, July 15, Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 3 p.m. EDT
- Third-place match: Saturday, July 18, Miami Stadium, 5 p.m. EDT
- World Cup Final: Sunday, July 19, MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey), 3 p.m. EDT
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.