As the 2026 World Cup hurtles towards its thrilling conclusion, the stage is set for a clash of titans. England and Argentina, both with rich histories at this global showpiece, will go head-to-head on Wednesday, July 15th, in a match that promises to deliver high drama. Meanwhile, European heavyweights France and Spain will engage in a tactical battle royale on Tuesday, the 14th, each side desperate to book their place in the World Cup final.
England's journey to this semi-final showdown has been forged through grit and determination. Their tie with Argentina carries significant historical weight, falling 40 years after that famous 1986 quarter-final encounter. This time around, both teams boast an array of superstars, but England will be pinning their hopes on a certain Jude Bellingham – the young midfielder who's conjured up a feat not seen since Diego Maradona in '86: scoring twice in each of his last two knockout games.
The other semi-final promises to be a mouth-watering encounter between France and Spain, with the Dallas Stadium hosting what could be one of the tournament's most closely contested matches. For France, the pressure is mounting as they bid for a third World Cup title, but their squad has been bolstered by the goal-scoring exploits of Kylian Mbappé (eight goals), Ousmane Dembélé (five) and Michael Olise (the top assist-provider in this competition). Spain, meanwhile, have maintained an astonishing 36-match unbeaten run – a record for the nation that's left them on cloud nine.
France will be looking to break their duck against Spain, who have historically shown they can match them blow for blow. Lamine Yamal may have only scored once in this tournament, but his star is rising fast, and he'll be eager to make an impact as his 19th birthday looms on the horizon. This semi-final showdown marks a rare encounter between these two nations – their last meeting was way back in the quarter-finals of Euro '24, where Spain secured a narrow 2-1 victory.
What's expected to unfold is a gruelling, tactical battle that will leave both sets of fans on the edge of their seats. The question on everyone's lips is: who will come out on top in these World Cup semi-finals and book their place in the final?