And then there were four.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 11 with an expanded field of 48 nations, and after a month of incredible action and drama, we’re down to the final four with the semifinals slated for Tuesday and Wednesday. The winners will meet in Sunday’s final in New York, with the losers facing off in the third-place match the day before in Miami.
All four teams – France, Argentina, Spain and England – have yet to lose a single game at this World Cup and, not so coincidentally, occupy the top four spots in the FIFA world rankings. The final four countries have all won a World Cup, but Argentina is seeking to become the first nation to win back-to-back titles since Brazil did so in 1958 and 1962.
France was a finalist four years ago after winning its second World Cup in 2018, while Spain is looking to win its second since first hoisting the trophy in 2010. For England, it’s been a long wait – The Three Lions haven’t won the World Cup since 1966.
Sportsnet takes an in-depth look at the semifinals and what to watch in both games.
FRANCE vs. SPAIN (Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET in Dallas)
The matchup: Two of the giants of European soccer clash in Texas in a match that will pit France’s lethal attack against Spain’s ultra-stingy defence. The French have scored an impressive 16 goals across their seven matches (second most), led by tournament joint top scorer Kylian Mbappé, who has eight goals (tied with Lionel Messi). But France has yet to go up against a back line as strong as Spain’s. The Spanish defence, anchored by veteran Aymeric Laporte and teenager Pau Cubarsi, has been virtually impenetrable, as it recorded five clean sheets before finally conceding its first goal in a 2-1 win over Belgium in the quarterfinals.
X-factor for France – Michael Olise: It’s easy to look at Kylian Mbappé’s incredible scoring run and think that France would be completely lost without him. But the fact is that the French are a well-balanced team with quality all over the pitch, especially in the centre of the park where Michael Olise has cemented his status as one of the world’s best midfielders. The Bayern Munich star has been the main creative force behind France’s awesome attack with a World Cup-high five assists. One more assist and he ties the single tournament record set by the great Pele in 1970. Olise has consistently unlocked defences with his pinpoint passes and has served as the chief creator of a French attack that has yet to be shut out through six games.
X-factor for Spain – Mikel Merino: Mikel Merino has been the prototypical “super sub” for Spain. The Arsenal midfielder came off the bench in the round of 16 in the 85th minute against Portugal with the game knotted at 0-0. He scored just minutes after stepping onto the pitch to lift Spain to a slim 1-0 victory. Merino was at it again in the quarterfinals when he was subbed on in the 86th minute and netted the decisive goal just two minutes later in a 2-1 win over Belgium. There was nothing fancy about either of Merino’s game-winning goals – they weren’t screamers that were a result of some audacious piece of skill. Instead, they were the byproduct of timeless anticipation by Merino. It’s a quality that has served him and his country well over the last two rounds, especially when superstar Lamine Yamal has been rather quiet.
The key battle – Désiré Doué vs. Rodri: Désiré Doué has only one goal and an assist across six appearances at this World Cup. But the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has been a hugely influential figure for France. So much of Les Bleus’ success on the counterattack relies upon quick transitions the moment they win back the ball. More often than not, Doué has been the one to deliver a killer pass or make an important run off the ball to help France immediately transition from defence into attack. Spain has dominated possession in its games throughout the World Cup, which will likely mean there’ll be fewer counterattacking opportunities for the French. If they do win back possession and the ball finds its way to Doué, it’ll be up to Rodri, Spain’s bulwark defensive midfielder, to stop the Frenchman in his tracks.
ENGLAND vs. ARGENTINA (Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET in Atlanta)
The matchup: England and Argentina will meet for the sixth time at the World Cup when they clash in the Peach State, renewing a long-standing rivalry. But never have the stakes been so high, as this will be their first-ever semifinal meeting after previously squaring off in a pair of quarterfinals and a round of 16 matchup. Argentina survived scares in the round of 32, round of 16 and quarterfinals to book its spot in the final four, while England also had a tough time of it in each of its three knockout games so far. With 17 goals, Argentina boasts the best attack. But England isn’t too far behind with 13, so Wednesday’s contest should be a wide-open affair with plenty of scoring opportunities.
X-factor for Argentina – Lionel Messi: It’s the obvious choice and one that is totally lacking in imagination. But it’d be downright silly to pretend it was somebody else on this talented Argentina team. Lionel Messi, at age 39, is having one of the best World Cups ever by a single player – the mercurial maestro has a tournament-high eight goals and two assists and has scored in all but one of Argentina’s six games to date. What’s been especially impressive about Messi has been his efficiency. According to FIFA’s tracking data, roughly 64 per cent of the distance Messi has covered across his six games has been at walking pace. He’s averaging about five miles per match, while players in similar positions are averaging around 6.6 miles per match – and they’re doing more running than walking.
X-factor for England – Jude Bellingham: This is another rather obvious choice, although a strong argument could be made for Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane, who ranks among the top scorers with six goals. But Bellingham has been England’s most influential player – the Real Madrid star also has six goals and is the first player in World Cup history to score a brace in back-to-back knockout matches since Diego Maradona did it for Argentina in 1986 in Mexico. The 23-year-old midfielder has been an absolute game changer for England; his show-stopping skills are a major reason why the Three Lions are on the cusp of reaching their first World Cup final in 60 years.
The key battle: Declan Rice vs. Alexis Mac Allister: This semifinal battle could come down to how England’s central midfield duo, led by defensive anchor Declan Rice, deals with Argentina’s quick press and transition play. Rice has been England’s most important defensive midfielder, shielding the back four while playing alongside Elliot Anderson in a double pivot. At the same time, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández have displayed great poise and have shown they can play through the pressure while also suffocating their midfield counterparts. Rice will have to do an exemplary job in helping England hold onto possession and slow down Argentina’s attacking rhythm. But if Mac Allister can win the midfield battle and help Argentina transition from defence into attack, England’s defence could be overwhelmed by Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez.
Editor’s note
John Molinaro is one of the leading soccer journalists in Canada, having covered the game for over 27 years for several media outlets, including Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is currently the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, a website dedicated to in-depth coverage of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer.