100 matches have come and gone at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the semifinal matchups have been set.
France, Spain, England, and Argentina are the last four teams still standing at the tournament and will now set their sights on booking their spot in Sunday’s final from New York New Jersey Stadium.
Here is a closer look at the semifinal matchups.
France vs. Spain - Dallas
Tuesday, July 14 at 3 p.m. ET / Noon PT on TSN1/3/4/5, CTV, Crave, TSN.ca, and the TSN App.
European giants collide once again as the first semifinal gets underway on Tuesday with Kylian Mbappe leading France against Lamine Yamal and Spain from Dallas Stadium.
France, the top-ranked team in the FIFA World rankings, will be looking for a measure of revenge against Spain after La Roja defeated them in the semis at the UEFA European Championship two years ago.
Didier Deschamps’ side took down Morocco with a 2-0 victory in the World Cup quarter-finals, with Mbappe continuing his torrid scoring pace at the tournament.
The Real Madrid superstar opened the scoring in the second half with his eighth goal of the World Cup, placing him into a tie with Argentina’s Lionel Messi atop the Golden Boot race.
It was his 20th goal in 20 career appearances at the World Cup, moving just one score away from joining Messi atop the tournament’s all-time leading scorers list.
Mbappe was subbed out with an apparent ankle injury in the closing stages of the victory over Morocco, but both Deschamps and the superstar striker have since told reporters that it will be all systems go for the semis as France looks to reach the World Cup final for the third consecutive tournament.
France claimed the top spot in Group I with wins over Senegal, Iraq, and Norway, before taking down Sweden in the Round of 32, Paraguay in the Round of 16, and most recently Morocco to set up the semifinal showdown against Spain.
Spain’s road to the semifinal has not been quite as dominant as France, but super sub Mikel Merino has provided back-to-back stunning late winners to see his side through to the final four at the World Cup for the first time since their 2010 triumph.
Merino first rescued Spain in the Round of 16 against Portugal, scoring the decisive goal in the second minute of stoppage time just moments after being subbed on to knock off their Iberian rivals.
In eerily similar fashion, Merino once again came on in the closing stages of the match against Belgium and scored in the 88th minute to see Spain go through to the semis.
“I’ve done this again, and it’s happened to me again, so it would seem that coincidence exists,” the Arsenal midfielder said after the win in the quarter-finals. “If you’re ready and you try, I guess it can happen for you.
“Honestly, it’s crazy to be able to help the team once again. This time in a different way, but at the same time to believe and trust that the opposing goalkeeper could make a mistake and to stay alert. ... I prepare for when the moment comes, and hopefully they keep coming.”
Spain had their five-game clean sheet streak broken against Belgium, conceding for the first time all tournament to Charles De Ketelaere in the first half.
The defence limited the damage from that point on, and now set their sights on stopping France’s star-studded attack that have scored 16 goals through six matches at this World Cup.
Despite the all-world talent on the other side of this semifinal, Yamal believes that Spain is the team to beat on that side of the bracket.
“I believe if France has to fear anyone, it should be us, in my opinion,” the Barcelona talisman said after the victory over Belgium.
“We were the ones who knocked them out before,” referring to Spain’s 2-1 victory against France in the semifinals of the 2024 Euros that propelled his side to yet another major international trophy.
While Yamal did score in that match, he enters the match against France sitting on just one goal in his first World Cup.
Despite the lack of goal contributions, the teenage sensation has been driving play down the right side for Spain all tournament and has now won Man of the Match against Austria and Belgium in the knockout rounds.
“We don’t fear anyone,” he said. “It’s clear that we are two great teams, world-class national teams, and for me, [France] are one of the best. We’ll see what happens.”
England vs. Argentina - Atlanta
Defending champions Argentina will renew their long-standing rivalry against a resurgent England side to close out the semifinals from Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday.
Wednesday, July 15 at 3 p.m. ET / Noon PT on TSN1/3/4/5, CTV, Crave, TSN.ca, and the TSN App.
Argentina has seemingly been pushed to the brink in all three of their knockout stage matches in their title defence, but La Albiceleste have answered the call each time and now find themselves one game away from getting back to the final.
The Argentines needed extra time to turn away Cabo Verde, a three-goal push in the final 11 minutes of the match to survive against Egypt, and now a Julian Alvarez 112th-minute winner against a 10-man Switzerland side to set up the semifinal against England.
“We’re among the best four, so we’re meeting our objectives,” Alvarez said after scoring a goal of the tournament candidate to see Argentina move on. “And we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. The whole match was hard, and we would have loved to have the win earlier, but we tried to get the win however we could.”
“It seems like if there’s no suffering, it doesn’t count,” added Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes. “But as long as the results come through.”
Messi had his nine-game World Cup scoring streak snapped in the win over Switzerland, but still found a way to leave his mark with an assist on Alexis Mac Allister’s goal to open the scoring.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is tied atop the Golden Boot race with Kylian Mbappe, while England’s star duo of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham sit at six apiece.
Bellingham jumped up the scoring ranks with a brace on Saturday, his second in as many matches, to lift the Three Lions over Norway in the quarter-finals.
The Real Madrid midfielder made history along with Kane as the only teammates in World Cup history to each record six goals each at the same tournament.
Despite the win, not everyone on the English touchline was pleased after the match.
“We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today,” manager Thomas Tuchel said after the match. “The result is fantastic. We’re in the last four. It’s amazing, but not happy with the performance...in every sense.”
The quarter-final was hard-fought among blistering conditions in Miami Stadium, and Bellingham later dismissed the criticism from his manager.
“Well, whatever,” he said in response to Tuchel’s comments. “It’s difficult out there. It’s a tough shift. My thoughts and appreciation goes to the players out there who put in a great shift.”
England are now just one win away from reaching their first World Cup final since 1966, the year of their lone victory at the tournament.
Could it finally be coming home?
