The stage is set for a mouth-watering showdown in New York this Sunday as the 2026 World Cup semi-finals reach their crescendo! France, Spain, Argentina, and England – the last four teams standing – are bracing themselves for battle, each desperate to lift the coveted trophy aloft. The first of these titanic clashes sees France take on Spain in a mouth-watering encounter that's already being touted as a potential 'real final' due to the sheer quality of both teams.
Guillem Balague, the Spanish journalist with an uncanny knack for predicting the unexpected, believes each of the four semi-finalists has what it takes to lift the trophy. He praises Spain's mastery of possession football, France's fearsome attack spearheaded by the mercurial Kylian Mbappé, Argentina's ruthless efficiency, and England's potent duo of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, who are on fire right now. A Spain versus England final, in Balague's eyes, would be an 'incredible spectacle', and he can't help but wish that England might finally bring home the bacon – suggesting that 'this could be the summer' for the Three Lions.
But opinions from pundits and fans are as divided as ever. Phil McNulty, the BBC Sport chief football writer, is convinced that France's sheer attacking brilliance will ultimately tell, predicting an England versus France final with France emerging victorious. Meanwhile, English fans are a mixed bag – some confident it's 'coming home' thanks to Bellingham and Kane, while others voice concerns about injury and fitness, fearing the imperious Lionel Messi might spoil their party.
Spanish fans, on the other hand, are unwavering in their support for La Roja. Lionel, a passionate Spanish fan based in the States, believes Spain can overcome France and then have a strong chance of lifting the trophy, citing their potent attack and rock-solid defence. Michel, another ardent supporter, is unequivocal – 'Spain will win the tournament, no doubt about it.'
Argentina, bidding to become only the third team in history to successfully defend their World Cup crown, face a daunting task against England. Balague notes that Argentina will likely seek to make their game against England as uneventful as possible, relying on moments of genius from Messi or Julián Álvarez to spark their campaign. The stakes are sky-high for all four nations, promising a thrilling conclusion to the tournament.