The FIFA World Cup 2026 is all set to enter its final stage, with the semi-finals to begin on July 15. In a total of 104 matches, only three matches are left, along with one third-place clash. This year’s World Cup has been the biggest in history, as a total of 48 teams participated for the first time.
Now only four teams remain – France, Argentina, England, and Spain – who are coincidentally also the top four teams in FIFA’s latest ranking. The first semi-final clash will be played between France and Spain in the United States, while Argentina will take on England on July 16. Ahead of the high-voltage clash, let’s take a look at this story and find out about the team form and the players who could change the match single-handedly.
Semi-finals schedule
July 15 – France vs Spain (Dallas Stadium, Arlington)
July 16 – Argentina vs England (Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta)
Who is the favorite among the four teams?
France has shown pure brilliance throughout the tournament so far. They have dominated every opponent they faced from the Group stage to the quarter-finals. The only time their vulnerabilities got exposed was during their Round of 16 clash against Paraguay. However, Didier Deschamps’s side silenced all the talk after beating Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals. Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele scored one goal each to settle the rematch of the 2022 semi-finals.
Spain, Argentina, and England’s form
Spain have had a different story in the World Cup as they haven’t shown their best performance yet. However, they have conceded just one goal in the tournament so far, which came against Belgium in the quarter-finals. Spain under Luis de la Fuente have turned into the kind of side that wins knockout games by controlling the ball, setting the pace, and shutting down chances before they happen.
Argentina are a different story right now. Lionel Scaloni’s team needed extra time for the third knockout match in a row, even though Switzerland played over an hour with ten men. The Swiss still found ways to expose gaps in Argentina’s defense before Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez eventually got the goals needed to book their spot in the next round.
England started their World Cup campaign with a bang. Harry Kane’s side have remained undefeated throughout the tournament, except for the Group Stage clash against Ghana, which ended in a draw. The squad has displayed immense mental toughness, successfully navigating high-pressure knockout scenarios. Furthermore, Tuchel’s tactical adaptability has maximized the output of core stars while maintaining a structured, undefeated run into the semi-finals.
Which players stood out among the four teams?
Kylian Mbappe – France
Kylian Mbappe once again showed that he remains one of the best players in the tournament’s history. He has scored 8 goals and provided 3 assists in the tournament so far, making him the top contender for the Golden Boot. Mbappe’s assist against Morocco, for taking the score to 2-0, was jaw-dropping as he dragged three defenders out of position, creating space for Ousmane Dembele to score the goal.
Lionel Messi – Argentina
Lionel Messi has played a key role in powering Argentina to the semi-finals. He has scored 8 goals and provided 2 assists across six matches. He is currently in second place in the Golden Boot race. While Messi faced rare vulnerability with two high-profile penalty misses, he consistently countered those errors by stepping up in critical moments—headlined by an opening-match hat-trick against Algeria and structural equalization against Egypt.
Jude Bellingham – England
Jude Bellingham has played a crucial role for the Three Lions in the tournament so far. He once again rose to the occasion for England, scoring twice to continue his outstanding run in the knockout stages. After rescuing the Three Lions against Mexico in the Round of 16, the Real Madrid midfielder delivered another decisive, match-winning performance against Norway just when England seemed to be running out of inspiration. He has scored 6 goals and 1 assist in the tournament.
Who will reach the final among the four teams?
France vs Spain
This clash between France and Spain is going to be a nail-biter. France have been the most complete team in the tournament, scoring 16 goals and conceding just 2, with Mbappe leading the line and Michael Olise putting together one of the standout winger performances at a World Cup in years.
Spain, though, won’t be intimidated. Barcelona’s star Lamine Yamal made that clear after the quarterfinal win, pointing out that Spain beat France in both 2024 and 2025. Their game plan to keep the ball, slow things down, and not let France breathe has worked before and might work again.
The risk for Spain is what happens when they lose the ball in a bad spot. France don’t need many chances to hurt you, and with Mbappe and Olise ready to break at pace, one loose pass could be enough.
Prediction: France. Their ability to score from almost nothing, combined with a defense that’s barely been tested, should be enough to seal the final berth
Argentina vs England
England arrive with Jude Bellingham, who is currently playing the best football of his career, and an attack built for quick transitions and runners in behind. Argentina still have Messi, a squad that’s been here before, and a knack for grinding out results even when they’re camped in their own half for long spells.
But the defense looks like the deciding factor. Argentina have shown the same cracks in all three knockout games so far, and England’s directness, pace on the counter, and Bellingham’s timing in the box look built to exploit exactly that.
Prediction: England. If Argentina’s backline has been shaky against lesser attacks, it’s hard to see them holding up for 90 minutes against a team that is good at hitting spaces in behind. Expect a tight game that swings in one or two moments.
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